« Obama's FAULT Dow Ends at Lowest Close in More Than 6 Years | Main | College Ousts Marine for LEGALLY Concealed Gun »
February 20, 2009
Benjamin Netanyahu Endorsed As Israel PM
Benjamin Netanyahu: Israel may soon have a hardline, Right-wing government that may prove an exceptionally difficult partner for America's new administration. Photo: GETTY
Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed as Israel PM
Benjamin Netanyahu, the leader of Israel's Right-wing Likud party, has won the endorsement of Israel's 'kingmaker' in a crucial step towards becoming prime minister.
Avigdor Lieberman, the leader of the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party, formally recommended that President Shimon Peres send for Mr Netanyahu and make him prime minister. Consequently, Israel may soon have a hardline, Right-wing government that may prove an exceptionally difficult partner for America's new administration.
Mr Lieberman, who won the balance of power in the Knesset, or parliament, in the general election on Feb 10, had been careful to maximise his bargaining power. Having thrown his weight behind the Likud leader, he will almost certainly be rewarded with a senior cabinet post in the new government, possibly the finance ministry.
During a meeting with Mr Peres, Mr Lieberman said: “We are recommending Benjamin Netanyahu only in the framework of a broad government. There must be a government of the three large parties, Likud, Kadima, Yisrael Beiteinu.”
But shortly afterwards Tzipi Livni, the foreign minister and Mr Netanyahu’s rival for the premiership, told her Kadima party that she would go into opposition, thwarting the creation of a broad coalition government. “We must be an alternative of hope and go into opposition,” she said.
Both the Likud leader and Mr Lieberman had hoped to have her on board. He had said that that both Miss Livni and Mr Netanyahu, who is popularly known as “Bibi”, should be willing to compromise in the interests of the country.
Miss Livni, who came first in the election with 28 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, had proposed a “rotating premiership” whereby she and Mr Netanyahu, who came second with 27 seats, would take it in turns to be prime minister for two years each.
“Bibi has to get used to talk of a broad government and not a narrow government, and Tzipi has to get used to there not being rotation,” said Mr Lieberman before his rebuff from the Kadima leader.
Instead, Mr Netanyahu is left with the prospect of being the most moderate member of a government of the hard Right.
He risks being seen as the key obstacle to any progress towards peace with the Palestinians as a narrow, Right-wing Israeli government would probably have difficult relations with President Barack Obama’s administration, an outcome that Mr Netanyahu is especially anxious to avoid.
Miss Livni’s decision leaves Mr Netanyahu at the helm of hardline government which would, at best, face paralysis over progress towards a peace settlement.
“Kadima won’t be the fig leaf for a government of paralysis,” said Miss Livni.
Earlier, in a note sent to Ehud Olmert, the caretaker prime minister, Miss Livni made clear that she would not serve under Mr Netanyahu.
After Mr Lieberman’s decision, President Peres may now formally invite Mr Netanyahu to form a coalition. If the Likud leader achieves this within 28 days, he will become prime minister.
Wild Thing's comment........
Obama will be upset.... tra la la la la, Bibi is the last person the Obama camp followers want to see as Israel’s PM, with the possible exception of maybe Rush Limbaugh.
Like his brother who was killed in action at Entebbe, Netanyahu served in an elite IDF combat unit. The Messiah was a “community organizer” and a Chicago political thug. Netanyahu has more honor, integrity, discipline and character than Barry Hussein Soetoro Obama can ever imagine.
Too bad Bibi wasn’t PM when Bush was president. They would have kicked butt together in the Middle East.
....Thank you Mark for sending this to me.
Mark
3rd Mar.Div. 1st Battalion 9th Marine Regiment
1/9 Marines aka The Walking Dead
VN 66-67
Posted by Wild Thing at February 20, 2009 05:44 AM
Comments
Israel needs Bibi to be PM. And Obama can go cry in his cream of wheat. The peacies can join him.
Posted by: yankeemom at February 20, 2009 07:54 AM
You are correct yankeemom, Bibi is just what Israel needs. And as far as Iran is concerned, they should be crappin their pants.
Posted by: cuchieddie at February 20, 2009 10:28 AM
This is whats great about a parlimentary form of government. Bibi came in second but his party and other conservatives way outnumbered the Liberals of Livni and were able to form a coalition government that will be strongly Conservative. And Benyamin Netanyahu will be their Prime Minister.
They don't have an alternative they are surrounded by Muzloom crazies and an idiot Iran.
So Ugbama can appease and kiss Achmodineejob's ass all he wants and have his nutso short-finger pseudo badass Emanuel try to force Israel to do its bidding and Bibi will shove it right back at them. Bibi's looking our for Israel.
Posted by: Mark at February 20, 2009 11:11 AM
Israel's existance is at stake. They need a hard liner like Netanyahu. They cannot rely on much from America right now because we have a Marxist, muzzie, hippie, metosexual, president.
Posted by: TomR at February 20, 2009 11:21 AM
Thank GOD! Bye bye Hamas and kiss your camel asses goodbye!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at February 20, 2009 11:50 AM
Swells my heart with joy, screw you Obama and that hippy Marxist chippy you hand picked to be our UN secretary of state!!!
Posted by: Jack at February 20, 2009 11:52 AM
i agree, I have watched him being interviewed and he is a straight talker. When he speaks their is little doubt as to what he is saying. To bad he was not able to run here. We got a lying something from somewhere that doesn't tell us where he was born, or what he will do. No, not correct he told us that he is a Marxist and we are beginning to see that by his actions.
Posted by: Bob A at February 20, 2009 06:12 PM
