Who wants to rule that country anyways?
So, Israel is a big mess right now. And if missiles, tanks and a shoddy international record aren’t enough, it can now throw a lack of leadership into the ring.
To those who don’t know, Israel had its election last night (Feb. 10, 2009). With the main party (Kadima) in tatters, a potential female prime minister, and what many perceive as two of Israel’s worst ex-prime ministers in the running, this was setting out to be an exciting round. Most people had their money on Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu, the leader of the nationalist-right wing Likud party. Tzipi Livni, despite endless charm and an impressive former record as minister of regional co-operation, wasn’t really getting people hot.
All this changed when the big guns came out. Despite its international reputation, the attack on Gaza was extremely popular with the Israeli public. So popular, in fact, that it actually worked as a publicity stunt for the dying Kadima—and the public went to the voting stations in droves.
Only thing is, the public really wasn’t decided on who they wanted more—a purportedly left-wing party that started dropping bombs like there’s no tomorrow, or a right-wing party that was promising an even harsher stance.
This indecisiveness in tow, Israel now got itself into even bigger trouble on election night. The extent of the mess is surprising. With 99.9 per cent of the ballots counted, Israel’s 18th Parliament is completely divided: Livni’s Kadima won 28 mandates (seats in the Israeli Parliament), while Netanyahu’s Likud won… 27. The big surprise was the third largest part: Israel Beyteynu (Israel is Our Home), a right-wing party of former Russian ex-pats who are pissed off with pretty much everything that moves, won 15 mandates.
A coalition government is expected. The real question now is—a coalition between which parties? Is it going to be the two right-wing parties, or an unexpected union between the left-wing party, which won by a vote, and its aching rival? What role religious Jews and the Arab parties, both with modest votes, are going to play in this conundrum? And can they all even sit together in Parliament without slitting throats?
All this an more in the next episode of, “How Israel can screw itself up even more.”
For more updates on the Israeli election, check out http://www.ynetnews.com.