Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., February 18, 2009 Shvat 24, 5769 | | Israel Time: 10:23 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File

Hang together or hang separately By Yoel Marcus Advertisement Both of the two leading candidates have too much ego and not enough of a majority. Even together, both leading parties do not have the majority needed to form a government. (Kadima and Likud together have just 55 Knesset seats.) Bibi's advantage is the option of forming a government with Avigdor Lieberman and Shas. For now, Lieberman is in Minsk (or Pinsk), perhaps for business or perhaps to prepare for criminal charges. But all that is neither here nor there. The scenario of a minority, extreme right-wing government is every Israeli leader's nightmare. It is the exact opposite of the image Bibi tried to foster in his campaign. As someone who was considered the designated liar during his term as prime minister, it will not be easy for him to maintain the new and improved self-image he created before this election. In Livni's current situation - on the one hand celebrating victory and on the other lacking the majority needed to form a government - Ehud Olmert advised her to remain in the opposition until the next election, which presumably will be pushed up after the fall of the right. Even if Olmert's intentions were pure, that's bad advice. Livni, with all her self-confidence, is no Ariel Sharon. And in the opposition Kadima is liable to disintegrate, either because of Shaul Mofaz's camp or because of defections to Likud by MKs who don't get cabinet posts. Not to mention the damage caused to the country by a clearly right-wing leadership. With the possibility that both Kadima and the pitiful remains of Labor will go into the opposition, more and more people are saying: You guys are saying that the right won? Show us the money, show us what you can do. How will you deal with the U.S. administration's expectations from Israel? What will you do regarding a peace agreement with the Palestinians? Accepting the right's ascendance to power is like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Returning the right to the government is simply not good for the country. When Bibi and Tzipi dissect the election results with the cold scalpel of reason, they will have no choice but to conclude that they must form a unity government that has the confidence of a majority of the Knesset. And they will have to focus first of all on three goals: continuing the Israeli-Palestinian peace process in accordance with the principles of Annapolis, trying to keep Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and, above all, legislating electoral reforms as quickly as possible. It does not matter which of them serves as prime minister first, especially if the post is rotated. Shimon Peres has a wealth of experience with complicated political and personal situations. As one tagged with the label of the country's biggest loser, with 11 electoral defeats - to Likud, Yitzhak Rabin, Bibi, Yitzhak Shamir, Amir Peretz, Moshe Katsav and so on - he knows a thing or two about identifying winners and losers. Livni believes that the involvement of Peres, with all his experience, will be critical. If he summons both candidates for premier to a private meeting, he can bridge all the gaps and get both to realize that if they cannot comprehend that the future of one hangs on that of the other, they will find themselves hanging separately. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Calm before the storm Obama officials meet U.S. Jews to explain their Durban II policy. Apple of their eye Israel resumes its annual shipment of Golan apples to Syria.   1.   Yoel Does Not Know or Care What is Good For Israel   1.   Yoel Does Not Know or Care What is Good For Israel 12:03  |  Baruch Gold 17/02/09   2.   mr. marcus is completely right: 12:34  |  saul a. readner 17/02/09   3.   Baruch know-it-all 13:43  |  john and the TRUTH! 17/02/09   4.   No, Left`s Nightmare. Israel` Respite 16:28  |  Paqid Yirmeyahu 17/02/09   5.   it depends who`s dreaming 20:17  |  siegfried 17/02/09   6.   Rotating egos in a screwed-up system. 01:35  |  Fortuna Benmayor 18/02/09

Read & React IDF: Hamas seized unexploded ordnance fired during Gaza op Responses: 51 'Say 'nyet' to Lieberman,' leftist U.S. Jews urge Kadima, Likud Responses: 24 Obama officials meet U.S. Jews to explain their Durban II policy Responses: 22 Reuven Pedatzur: Israel must remind Iran what will happen if attacked Send response Aluf Benn: Can Bar Refaeli soften mages of the war in Gaza? Send response More Headlines 09:15 Cabinet meets on Shalit deal and Gaza truce 08:59 Which will come first - Gaza truce or Shalit deal? 09:45 IDF bombs seven Gaza tunnels, Hamas post; Qassam hits Negev 09:01 Peres to consult parties on prime minister pick 10:10 Ex-envoy: Netanyahu-Lieberman is 'bad combination' for U.S. 08:42 Layoffs hit record high as 20,000 Israelis lose jobs in January 10:18 Syria reportedly stepping up production of chemical weapons 09:56 Manila arrests Islamist over plot to attack Israeli, U.S. embassies 08:12 Israeli chemist arrested for selling cyanide to Palestinians 23:00 IDF: Hamas seized unexploded ordnance fired during Gaza op 23:45 Assad: Gaza offensive won't derail our peace talks with Israel 01:33 Key U.S. Jewish groups praise Obama's economic stimulus plan 05:45 Three dual-citizen MKs ordered to annul their foreign passports 06:04 Export of Golan apples to Syria: 'Doing business with an enemy state' Previous Editions Select Day 17 feb 16 feb 15 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 09 feb 08 feb 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb

Special Offers Advertisement Spring Specials-Dan Hotels Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$ Dead Sea Skin Care Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off! Summer in Israel Israeli style - Tzofim Chetz V'Keshet 2009 Passover Vacations The BEST Passover Vacations around ? Mexico, Arizona and Florida Camp Kimama Israel 2009 The best place for your children this summer Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results

Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved