To remind you, Mofaz recently tabled a peace plan in which he said,
I can give a guarantee to the U.S. that at the end of the second phase the Palestinians will have most of the size of the 1967 territory, but not the exact borders because they should be based on the settlement blocs: Ma’ale Adumim, Gush Etzion, Efrat, Ariel, etc. These communities will become a defendable, eastern border for the state of Israel.
The issue of Jerusalem should be discussed in a very sensitive way. There is no chance to divide Jerusalem. It will remain united as the capital of the state of Israel and we have to find a way to handle the daily life of the Jewish and Palestinian people in Jerusalem.
Some detractors asked, Why send him a lifeline when he is dropping in the polls? So much for the idea that calling the elections paves the way for Iran. But so does this.
According to INN
The sides also agree to work together to change the current system of elections and governance in Israel. The current system will be replaced by one that enhances government stability and will make it more possible for the elected prime minister to complete his term in office.
Ted Belman
By Jonathan Lis and Ophir Bar-Zohar, HAARETZ
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition chairman MK Shaul Mofaz (Kadima) reached a surprise agreement early Tuesday morning to form a national unity government.
The move came as the Knesset was preparing to disperse for early elections, which were expected to be scheduled for September 4.
Under the agreement, Kadima will join Netanyahu’s government and commit to supporting its policies through the end of its term in late 2013. Mofaz is expected to be appointed deputy prime minister, as well as minister without portfolio.
Mofaz will also serve as a member of the security cabinet, and Kadima members will serve as chairmen of the Knesset foreign affairs and defense committees, the economics committee, and any others that are agreed by both sides.
Chairperson of the Israel Labor Party, Shelly Yachimovich, will become opposition leader instead of Mofaz. The process is also likely to affect Yair Lapid’s new party, Yesh Atid – it will have to wait another year and a half for elections to the 19th Knesset.
In exchange, Netanyahu’s government will support Kadima’s proposal to replace the Tal Law, which enables ultra-Orthodox youth to defer national service.
The sides also agreed on instituting changes to Israel’s electoral system.
Yair Lapid responded to the move on Tuesday morning on his Facebook page. He described the formation of the unity government as “the old kind of politics” and “corrupt and ugly.”
“It is time to remove it from our lives,” he wrote, adding, “This is politics of chairs instead of principles… of the interests of the group instead of the whole nation. They think that now they will continue for some time, and that we will forget, but they are mistaken. This disgusting political alliance will bury all those involved.”
Shelly Yachimovich criticized the move, and calling it an alliance of cowards, and the most ridiculous zig-zag in Israel’s political history. She also said that the move represented an opportunity for the Israel Labor Party to lead the opposition.
Meretz head Zahava Gal-On expressed outrage over the surprise move, calling it a “mega-stinking maneuver by a prime minister who wants to avoid elections and a desperate opposition chairman facing a crash.”
“This is a disgrace to the Israeli parliament and a terrible message to the public, which is losing faith in the leadership of the state,” she added.
Shaul Mofaz was elected head of Kadima less than two weeks ago, when he defeated former party head Tzipi Livni in the party’s leadership primary.
In an interview with Haaretz ahead of the primary, Mofaz insisted that, if elected, he would not join a government led by Netanyahu.
“Kadima under my leadership will remain in the opposition. The current government represents all that is wrong with Israel, I believe. Why should we join it?” he said at the time.
@ BlandOatmeal:
Wrong, they hold their mandate by virtues of the public’s vote. What the party can do is to change the chairman and leader of the party by the party central committee. Theoretically the Likud could replace BB without the need for general elections. It’s never happened to my knowledge.
I know very little of Israeli politics but I have an outsider thought. There are issues where the appearance of a strong national unity govt may be essential. If Israel speaks with one voice on Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Syria, etc it will be difficult for Obama and the EU to portray it as an intransigent govt of right wing extremeists that is unrepresentative of the Israeli population. The appearance will be that ‘extremists” of left and right are not part of the govt. Also, his support of the Israeli left to bring down bibi would now work against obama. The same is true externally regarding the “palestinian” issue vis a vis Obama and Europe. Israel has been in need of a one voice govt and the greatest detriment has been the left masquerading as the voice of the people. The question becomes how will this unity govt handle the “palestinian” issue? Is it possible that it suits all players to maintain the status quo with the appearance of conflict? A one voice got can leave, JS, annex JS, agree a “permanent” peace deal or just stall? In stalling the modus operandi appears usually to be tactics of small sacrifices with a strategy to maintain the status quo(smoke and mirrors for stalling). I think the key is in which of those choices, or other choices, can all the new govt factions come to agreement on.
yamit82 Said:
I think this is a problem generally of the english derived parliamentary system where the executive and legislative branches are essentially unified. In the US presidential system there is potential for opposition during the terms because the 2 branches can be different parties but mainly because a legislators election is distinct from that of the executive and the executive cabinet is not comprised of legislators.
@ yamit82:
It’s my understanding, that if individual MKs want to break party discipline, they are simply replaced. Enough of them have to conspire to form a new party, as Sharon and Barak did, in order to impact the power balance in the knesset. I’m not sure about all that. All things are possible, yes; but as you say, the rules all favor antiZionist Leftists.
In my opinion, the only thing that can end this self-destructive cycle, is if the average Israeli voter develops a solid bottom — something the Bible calls “faith” (not the wishy-washy “hope so” that the world defines as “faith”). Someone heads for cover when he’s being shot at, because he truly BELIEVES he might get killed or injured. That’s true faith: The matter is real to him, to the point that he instantly responds based on his convictions. Israelis need to see God as more real and more powerful than either the Arabs or Obama; and they need to have more FAITH in the Word of God than what their fellows think, or in the latest politically correct philosophical fad: It has to be their reality. If the Israeli voters had this, they would be unstoppable.
@ BlandOatmeal:
I had to run and do something. While doing it, I had a chance to think on this whole “cowardice” business. A few observations:
1. What is labeled as “courage” is, at worst, simply a herd mentality driven by ignorance or fear, and, at best, making the best of a bad situation, when caught between a rock and a hard place. A soldier “taking a grenade” and saving his foxhole buddy is an example of the latter: He had to make a split-second decision, and had to choose between dying and saving his buddy, on the one hand, and having both of them killed.
2. John McCain wrote in his book, that in order for something to be labeled as “courage”, the person had to be in real, iminent danger. I don’t agree. As I said above, people are RECOGNIZED as courageous, based largely on their circumstances. McCain himself endured tremendous suffering in the service of his country. He was crippled for life, though I don’t know how much his injuries were caused while being shot down and how much they were caused by torture. When did his courage kick in? When he enlisted? He likely did that as much to look good for dad as for anything else. When he took off in the aircraft? It would’ve taken courage to refuse, if his convictions dictated otherwise. When he was shot down? The North Vietnamese were responsible for that; he had nothing to do with it. When he was tortured? Being the son of an admiral, he probably would have endured lifetime shame if he gave in too soon; and he did, of course, give in; it was only human to do so.
What the Israeli voters did at the polls, however, was the free expression of what was inside them. They were not threatened with shame, pain or injury; and there was no personal reward to be gained, seeing that nobody knew whom they voted for. They voted for “No-Value Olmert” and “Chameleon Netanyahu”, because they were afraid to commit themselves to parties expressing true conviction, either Left, Right or Religious. Why? Terminal apathy? Who was responsible for that, if not the voters themselves. It’s not cowardice, to preserve your own life when the alternative is foolish endangerment. What’s cowardice, is avoiding danger, knowing that in doing so you are putting innocent people at risk. That’s what the Israeli voters seem to have been doing.
I admit that this is a snap judgment; I certainly don’t have all the facts, though only God really does.
They could’ve voted for Lieberman — He’s not a Leftist and not Bibi; and if they didn’t like his accent or his religion, they could’ve voted NU. I don’t buy the argument that they “had no choice”. Cowards. I’ll stick with my verdict.
@ BlandOatmeal:
Israelis have no say except for the possibility of voting every 2-3-4 year depending how long any government lasts.
The votes in our elections are negative votes. Few vote for but only against. Israelis fed up with a Likud Government would never vote labor so Kadima gave them an option to punish the Likud.
Israeli citizenry can go to the polls and vote for the party of their choice. But once the election is over that’s where democracy comes to an end. The people went through the motions of democracy and the parties themselves decide what to do with the results. Likud may come out stronger, but it will still need to bargain with other parties to create a government. This bargaining is our true “election”. We, the people, have nothing to say in the matter. The government will do what it wants no matter what the majority thinks.
Cowards? I think not, it’s just the knowledge and realization that it makes little difference in the end. We always get a leftist government no matter who is elected.
Here is a potential scenario: The religious parties quit the coalition over Tal Law, destruction of settlements especially if there is violence like Amona. Lieberman quits and leads the opposition in the Knesset that leaves BB with a coalition of 61-62. If members of the Likud oppose BB and his policies the government falls and if not over those little items if the Budget is not passed the government falls automatically.
It ain’t over till it’s over especially here in Israel.
@ Laura:
You have your opinion, Laura, and I have mine. If Israelis are not cowards, why did so many of them vote for Kadima, a party that stands for ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, most of whose members were facing criminal indictments? Why did so many of the others vote for milquetoast candidates such as Binyamin Netanyahu? Reason: They were AFRAID to stick their necks out and positively affirm their Biblical right to the Land of Israel.
I call that cowardice. You may call it whatever you want.
Laura Said:
excellent point laura!
unfortunately, this musloid bastard (literally and figuratively) is abetted by the criminal main stream media that has ceased reporting news, and is now in the business of *creating* a story…
@ BlandOatmeal:
The Israeli public are far from cowards.
And what to say about American voters who put in the White House someone who has the most radical left wing vision of any major candidate in our history? And its not like they were in the dark before voting for him since his radical ties were revealed.
@ yamit82:
That sums up the leadership here in America as well.
Buy batteries and bottled water
David M. Weinberg
The only good thing in the news today is this little item. Here
@ BlandOatmeal:
Srike? By whom?
Labor has no cards to play, they were outmaneuvered and stabbed in the back by Kadima. Livni wanted to run together with Labor and Shelly was counting on Kadima to strengthen BB opposition in and after the elections. When over half of Kadima MK’s faced not returning to the Knesset after elections the pressure mounted on Mofaz to join the government. A lot can happen in a year and a half even re-merging back into the Likud.
BB is going to try to implement what he has always wanted and that is to have Israel vacate most of the Y&S sans formal agreement and with such a government now it’s a possibility. The left won’t oppose him over that. The right have been neutralized and essentially powerless and yes some Likud backbenchers could revolt but I don’t think they will in any serious way but BB doesn’t need them and he is stronger today than Sharon was before Gush Katif.
BB will now lead the Likud led coalition against the political right in Israel with no fear internally and support from the EU and Obama.
We will now see the REAL BB shorn of any internal pressure from the right or left and he always holds the card of going to elections as a worst case option.
There will be no motions of no confidence, he can ignore the Knesset, has no opposition whatsoever …The democratic process has been usurped.
This is not a National Unity government this is a coming together of selfinterests, narrow political interests by corrupt politicians. What it is not is a unity based on national interests. Likud MK’s should be held accountable and punished in future elections by keeping them way down or off the Likud lists.
@ yamit82:
Time for a general strike? Labor still has a card or two to play. The big problem is, that the Israeli voters really are “Centrist” — which is to say, “cowards”.
High Court insists on demolition of homes in Ulpana neighborhood by July 1
Coalition chairman backs call for legislation to circumvent ruling on buildings constructed on private Palestinian land at Beit El settlement
PM’s political masterstroke buys him room for maneuver. How will he use it?
Netanyahu never wanted early elections. But is staving them off more than a tactical victory?
Abbas to reshuffle Palestinian cabinet within 48 hours
Fayyad to remain prime minister, but cede Finance Ministry
Goes to show that our politicians are capable of keeping secrets. (negotiations between Mofaz and BB)
BB now has some 93 mandates in his coalition to which no other party can threaten or weaken the coalition. It has the same effect as a presidential system in terms of stability. On the other side BB now has virtually dictatorial power.
Over a quarter of the current MK’s in elections would not return if elections were held so there was no groundswell of support for elections from within and from without: the Israeli public.
BB’s declaration and move to new elections I believe were made to force Kadima and Mofaz to join the coalition and Mofaz had a lot of pressure in view of low polling numbers (11) to join BB and the likud to put off the elections.
BB has given every indication that he is supporting the Fayyad Plan, as does Barak and now Mofaz. Israel will now be ruled by a Troika of Failed Military and polical leaders.
The inmates have essentially taken over the asylum.
I can see that: The Israeli right have been totally outmaneuvered and marginalized even more today than before this political move.
I see the Government moving to withdraw from most of Y&S without agreement with the PA just as Sharon did in Gaza.
I also believe that BB has never had any intention to attack Iran and has used Iran to keep the right wing of Likud in line and to swallow all of his moves that have crossed all of the Likud’s red lines. Israel’s threat to attack Iran have brought to Israel many benefits in America supplying Israel with weapons and systems that would never have been offered otherwise.
On the agenda that must be dealt with immediately and was probably the primary motivation for BB was the prospect of losing the Haredy parties and Shas because of the Tal law being struck down by the Supreme court and the demolition orders for Migron and Ulpanna neighborhood in Beit El.
The right wing has no power now to influence BB or to enact legislation that will bypass the Supreme courts decisions. Lieberman is weakened and speculation is that now that he and his party are politically expendable the State Prosecutor will indict him in the near future.
In the end I am not surprised and I have tried to understand why BB at this time wanted new elections in the first place. I couldn’t see what was in it for BB and the Likud at this time. now it’s clear why.
Reality is that: The government will do what it wants no matter what the majority thinks.
I cannot express the ramifications of the Bibi-Mofaz deal, than Yoel at
http://olehgirl.com/?p=10563
She opens with:
Now, let’s see how things stand a few weeks or months from now, when Iran tests its nuclear bomb…