A Narrow Government on the Right?

With some 65 members of the Knesset endorsing Binyamin Netanyahu, Tzipi Livni is saying that Kadima will go into opposition. Unless this is more maneuvering, this would indicate that Netanyahu is likely to form a narrow, rightist government based on Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu and the religious parties, despite his protestation that he prefers a unity government. If that happens, the Obama Administration and Israel may be on a collision course. Former US Ambassador Daniel Kurzer just said the other day that a narrow all-right-wing government would not be a good thing, and now it looks as if it may transpire.

Peres will meet tomorrow with Netanyahu and Livni, but with a majority of the Knesset urging that Netanyahu be given the mandate, it is starting to seem inevitable. There may be pressure on Kadima, though, to join the government and create a broader unity front rather than let the right govern with no balancing center.

And it was Avigdor Lieberman's decision to recommend Netanyahu that tilted the balance, so he is indeed the kingmaker. Now the question is what post he will get. Lieberman has said that he wants a broad government, and so has Netanyahu, but whether they can cajole Livni is another matter. Remember that once Netanyahu has the mandate, he has four weeks, and then may ask for another two, for a total of 42 days. So what Livni says today could change over time.