Comments on: Likud and Labor: The New Odd Couple of Israeli Politics http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/likud-and-labor-the-new-odd-couple-of-israeli-politics/ Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:05:15 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: idov http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/likud-and-labor-the-new-odd-couple-of-israeli-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-229518 idov Sun, 29 Mar 2009 11:01:17 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=50950#comment-229518 Barack wanted to join the government all along. But he only got enough support in his party when former leader Ben-Eliezer came over. Ben-Eliezer said on TV that he changed his mind because Bibi did not have a government. If you remove the ultra-Orthodox Ashkenazi, who were hemming and hawing, and an extreme nationalist party, who Bibi didn't want, Ben-Eliezer was right. It would have meant in the worst case another election immediately or even less problematic, a weak government which couldn't have lasted. Meanwhile Israel has serious problems to deal with, not the least of which is growing unemployment. That's the nature of Israeli politics but the big loser if this government works is Livni. In the past, throughout the 80s for example, when the two largest parties Likud and Labor saw that they either had to hang together or hang separately, they worked it out. Her party, Kadimah replaced Labor, Barak's party, as number two, and she put the country in a possible bind instead of pushing for rotation as PM which she would have got, she just walked away. Barack wanted to join the government all along. But he only got enough support in his party when former leader Ben-Eliezer came over. Ben-Eliezer said on TV that he changed his mind because Bibi did not have a government. If you remove the ultra-Orthodox Ashkenazi, who were hemming and hawing, and an extreme nationalist party, who Bibi didn’t want, Ben-Eliezer was right. It would have meant in the worst case another election immediately or even less problematic, a weak government which couldn’t have lasted. Meanwhile Israel has serious problems to deal with, not the least of which is growing unemployment.

That’s the nature of Israeli politics but the big loser if this government works is Livni. In the past, throughout the 80s for example, when the two largest parties Likud and Labor saw that they either had to hang together or hang separately, they worked it out. Her party, Kadimah replaced Labor, Barak’s party, as number two, and she put the country in a possible bind instead of pushing for rotation as PM which she would have got, she just walked away.

]]> By: MiamaMan http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/likud-and-labor-the-new-odd-couple-of-israeli-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-228743 MiamaMan Fri, 27 Mar 2009 10:44:35 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=50950#comment-228743 For drastic that it seems, the only chance of survival Israel has is to nuke Iran. They must provoke Iran by attacking their nuclear program-producing facilities via air power, and nuke them after they send rockets to Israel trying to get Dimona. In the process, Syria can get lectured too. In this wise, there will be peace in the Middle East for at least for 10 years. Otherwise, my advise to them is to pack up again and leave the neighborhood. For drastic that it seems, the only chance of survival Israel has is to nuke Iran.

They must provoke Iran by attacking their nuclear program-producing facilities via air power, and nuke them after they send rockets to Israel trying to get Dimona. In the process, Syria can get lectured too.

In this wise, there will be peace in the Middle East for at least for 10 years.

Otherwise, my advise to them is to pack up again and leave the neighborhood.

]]> By: wancow the islomogynist http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/likud-and-labor-the-new-odd-couple-of-israeli-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-228493 wancow the islomogynist Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:38:51 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=50950#comment-228493 I simply can't believe Netenyahu put anyone in office because of good relations with the Obama regime. What's the point when Obama has made it very clear he supports Hamas and very likely supports Hamas' goal of wiping out Israel... Bibi has an opportunity to tweek Obama's nose and gain public support the only way anyone can today: as a victim. I simply can’t believe Netenyahu put anyone in office because of good relations with the Obama regime. What’s the point when Obama has made it very clear he supports Hamas and very likely supports Hamas’ goal of wiping out Israel…

Bibi has an opportunity to tweek Obama’s nose and gain public support the only way anyone can today: as a victim.

]]> By: asdf http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/likud-and-labor-the-new-odd-couple-of-israeli-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-228452 asdf Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:41:22 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=50950#comment-228452 Obama is proving to be a dhimmi Obama is proving to be a dhimmi

]]> By: Lynn B. http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/likud-and-labor-the-new-odd-couple-of-israeli-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-228451 Lynn B. Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:38:36 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=50950#comment-228451 Did we bomb the convoy in the Sudan? Seems arms shipments to Hamas from Iran heading through the Sudan to Egypt and then through tunnels to Gaza has been blown up by F-15s. Anyone? Did we bomb the convoy in the Sudan? Seems arms shipments to Hamas from Iran heading through the Sudan to Egypt and then through tunnels to Gaza has been blown up by F-15s. Anyone?

]]> By: Professor Guvinoff http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/likud-and-labor-the-new-odd-couple-of-israeli-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-228431 Professor Guvinoff Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:27:43 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=50950#comment-228431 Two things: 1. Livni did not steer her boat well. 2. This could not possibly have happened without a wide popular consensus regarding the menace of Iran and the urgency of doing something tangible about it. It is easy for those far away, like Obama, to profess that the "Palestinian State" is priority number one. It is not. Priority one is survival. When it comes to the survival of western values, Israel is our canary in the mineshaft. Netanyahu is smart enough to sing the music of the stupid "peace" kabuki, but this is not where his popular support comes from. The palestinians have not done anything to deserve statehood. The Israeli have not done anything to deserve destruction. Obama is also at risk, but he does not know it. The Isreali do. He should listen to them instead of lecturing them. In general, idiots are harmless. When they have power, watch out! Two things:

1. Livni did not steer her boat well.

2. This could not possibly have happened without a wide popular consensus regarding the menace of Iran and the urgency of doing something tangible about it.

It is easy for those far away, like Obama, to profess that the “Palestinian State” is priority number one. It is not. Priority one is survival.

When it comes to the survival of western values, Israel is our canary in the mineshaft. Netanyahu is smart enough to sing the music of the stupid “peace” kabuki, but this is not where his popular support comes from.

The palestinians have not done anything to deserve statehood. The Israeli have not done anything to deserve destruction. Obama is also at risk, but he does not know it. The Isreali do. He should listen to them instead of lecturing them. In general, idiots are harmless. When they have power, watch out!

]]> By: Pops in Vienna http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/likud-and-labor-the-new-odd-couple-of-israeli-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-228419 Pops in Vienna Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:57:43 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=50950#comment-228419 The irony is that after Israel is nuked and taken apart that most of the survivors will immigrate to the USA and register as Democrats. Hope there will be enough Obama tee-shirts for the Red Cross to distribute. The irony is that after Israel is nuked and taken apart that most of the survivors will immigrate to the USA and register as Democrats. Hope there will be enough Obama tee-shirts for the Red Cross to distribute.

]]> By: Scott http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/likud-and-labor-the-new-odd-couple-of-israeli-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-228403 Scott Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:03:39 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=50950#comment-228403 Joel hit it on the head.The electoral system in Israel is insane.Israel faces grave threats,and is ill served by this coalition idiocy. Joel hit it on the head.The electoral system in Israel is insane.Israel faces grave threats,and is ill served by this coalition idiocy.

]]> By: Marina http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/likud-and-labor-the-new-odd-couple-of-israeli-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-228392 Marina Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:20:48 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=50950#comment-228392 F-- YOU, BIBI! A coalition with socialists? Now? F-- YOU! F– YOU, BIBI!

A coalition with socialists? Now? F– YOU!

]]> By: Joel http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/likud-and-labor-the-new-odd-couple-of-israeli-politics/comment-page-1/#comment-228366 Joel Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:59:02 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/?p=50950#comment-228366 Netanyahu needs to shore up his coalition, counteract the extremist image of himself and of some parties and individuals in his government, and possibly gain legitimacy for military moves by having Barak and Labor at his side. The sacrificing of his fellow Likudniks, denying them the cabinet posts they deserve, is not pretty, but neither is Israel's flawed parliamentary system. Netanyahu needs to shore up his coalition, counteract the extremist image of himself and of some parties and individuals in his government, and possibly gain legitimacy for military moves by having Barak and Labor at his side. The sacrificing of his fellow Likudniks, denying them the cabinet posts they deserve, is not pretty, but neither is Israel’s flawed parliamentary system.

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