Political Quake Rocks Israel: Netanyahu Forms New "Unity" Government
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Political Quake Rocks Israel
Netanyahu To Form New "Unity Gov't"
(AO-Newswire) -- Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu stunned his nation Tuesday when he announced that his Likud-based government would be transformed into a new "unity" government with the Kadima Party joining the Likud-led coalition government.
The announcement came just days after the Prime Minister had announced that early general elections would be held on September 4 instead of 2013. Yet even as that announcement was made, private negotiations were underway between the Prime Minister and the new leader of the Kadima Party, Shaul Mofaz. Mofaz had replaced former Kadima leader Tzipi Livni after she resigned in April.
Mofaz and Netanyahu have essentially agreed to a "power-sharing" arrangement that will last until regular elections are held sometime before October of 2013. This means the call for elections of September 4 have been cancelled.
The new "unity" government will have a solid, stable majority of 94 seats in the Knesset, leaving only the Labor Party out in the cold.
One of the first orders of business for the new government will be to deal with a touchy subject called the "Tal Law" which protects the ultra-orthodox male Jews to defer military service indefinitely. By changing that law and limiting options for deferring service, it would seem that the new government is looking forward to the need for additional soldiers in the near future, suggesting expectations of a future war with Iran and Israel's nearby Arab neighbors, including Syria, Lebanon and perhaps Egypt.
At a Tuesday news conference to announce the new government, Kadima Party leader Mofaz hinted that a major reason for the shift to a unity government was that Israel is facing security threats "from all ranges" and a unity government faces such threats in the best way.
Netanyahu explains his reason for the change as follows:
"Israel needs stability. I originally wanted to carry on with the coalition until the set date for elections. When I saw the stability being undermined I opted for elections, but when it became clear to me that it is possible to create a wide government – the widest in Israel's history, with 94 MKs – I decided to do so."
The new unity government will also be tasked with changing the system of the government but it is unclear as to what this means. There had been some talk of shifting to an American democracy model as opposed to a parliamentary model.
For more on this developing story, LINK HERE for Jerusalem Post coverage. LINK HERE for coverage from Israel National News and Arutz Sheva Radio News website.
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Israel's Unity Gov't May Pave Way
For Israeli Strike on Iran
The new "unity" government keeps Israel's Defense Ministery, Ehud Barak at the military controls with a firm stand for military action against Iran as needed. Some see the new government as more likely than ever to order military action against Iran's nuclear facilities. Why? Kadima was the home of the "peace-niks" opposed to military action against Iran unless absolutely necessary and only if the United States refused to take the lead. This gives the unity government a shield against any political opposition from the peace-niks in Israel. For more see LINK HERE.
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New Israeli Gov't To Strengthen Israel
Against Undue American Interference on Iran
The new "unity" government's increased stability will send a strong message to the White House after Obama's past meddling in Israeli politics prevented Israeli military action against Iran.
President Obama will find it much more difficult to restrain the new Israeli government from taking unilateral military action against Iran's nuclear facilities should diplomatic talks fail at the Baghdad conference on May 23. For more on this aspect of the new "unity" government, check out YNET News analysis from Israel. LINK HERE.
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How Israel's Unity Government Came To Be
Debka.com Provides Behind the Scenes Insights
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