Yossi Verter

During the four days of missile attacks on the south, Netanyahu didn't convene his security-diplomatic cabinet even once. He and Barak made all the decisions.

It's been a good week for Shimon Peres, with the president being honored with the Medal of Freedom in America and receiving the Israeli public's top approval rating among national leaders.

Support for Netanyahu's Likud party is at all-time high, but Israelis still skeptical regarding attack on Iran's nuclear facilities without U.S. backing.

Support for Kadima at all-time low, but Likud on course for between 35 and 37 Knesset seats; Poll also finds most Israelis oppose an Israeli strike on Iran.

How the United States would act were Israel to disregard its position is impossible to determine. In this respect, the decision that Netanyahu must make is much tougher than what faced Olmert in summer 2007.

Probe began 11 months ago amid allegations that PM traveled at expense of businessmen, donors, and that he illegally obtained campaign funds.

The justices' surprise ruling that the Tal Law is illegal threw Netanyahu for a loop - now he'll have to handle that hot potato before elections.

U.S. President reportedly feels recent threats by Israeli spokesmen are unnecessary warmongering, voices objection to attack on Iran any time soon.

According to the High Court’s directive the new law must be − believe it or not − proportionate, egalitarian and constitutional, three words that send shivers down the spines of Haredi politicians.

The Prime Minister did not speak in support of the three public servants in his bureau who took the right, moral and legal action in reporting alleged sexual harassment of a female employee to the Attorney General.

Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to call all the shots in Likud these days. Meanwhile, as the leadership race for Kadima is warming up, that party seems to have lost any pretense of forming a government.

The prime minister isn't a belligerent man, says an opponent. He knows what destruction an attack on Iran would lead to.

One of the main outcomes of last summer's protest will likely be an end to draft exemptions for the ultra-Orthodox. Meanwhile, army reservists are also pressing their case for more favorable affordable-housing criteria.

Benjamin Netanyahu poised to take Likud leadership for fifth time, with Moshe Feiglin his lone rival.

The accusations against Natan Eshel have put the prime minister's ranks in chaos. According to one source, Netanyahu is more angry with the accusers than the accused.

This week, a date was set for the final showdown between Livni and Mofaz for Kadima's chairmanship. The next two months won't be pretty. Netanyahu, too, faces a primary, at month's end. For him, the problem will be the grueling election year that will follow his presumed victory.

The party's problem is not only Yair Lapid entering politics, but three years of disappointing performance, weak leadership, internal strife and wacky Knesset members.

Anyone who saw Yair Lapid as the Left's great hope has seen that hope dashed: He divides the left and in effect guarantees another term for Netanyahu.

As of today, the tables have turned on Lapid; instead of asking questions and raising eyebrows at the answers, he will be forced, for the first time, to choose sides, give answers and make decisions.

People say that PM Netanyahu accepts the advice of the person who last spoke with him. Lately that seems to be Justice Minister Neeman, whose plan to stack the judicial appointments committee has died a natural death.

Bill seeks to invalidate results of democratic elections held by the Bar Association to choose its representatives to the Committee selecting Supreme Court justices.

As the year comes to an end, the public's attention keeps being drawn to the prime minister, whose opponents want to pin the blame on him for Haredi exclusion of women, and whose allies are about to re-introduce a bill to delay Yair Lapid's entry into politics.

Netanyahu's aides think that the recent massive media coverage of various manifestations of violence and discrimination against women are part of a plot to topple him.

The issue is not which aide approved the embarrassing tribute to Netanyahu at the Carmel fire memorial ceremony - it's why the prime minister apparently felt the platitudes were necessary.

In the last year, Middle Eastern leaders have been ousted and denounced, have been slaughtered or have engaged in slaughter. The response of Israel's premier has been to become more entrenched in his own views - and in passivity, as Tzipi Livni puts it.