Kudos to Shoula for a correct reading of the political climate in Israel. Also thanks to YNet for publishing a pro-Netanyahu aritcle such as this. Ynet's "father", Yediot Ahronot, has spent a long time unjustly defaming Netanyahu, so this article is a welcome change from Yediot's usual anti-Netanyahu ranting.

on two horses at the same time.

Obama is coming back to dealing with Israel/ He wants to be the Father of the Palestinian state . He is coming to visit Israel to give False hopes to the Israelis. BUt the Israelis ,as Shoula stated correctly, do not believe in the Arabs no longer. So Confrontation will occure and the pressures. We need a strong Bibi to fight Obama against establishing a terrorist state and Hamastan. Enough MIssiles on Israel from Hizballah and Hamas. Israel cannot open a new front!

What nonsense, the truth is that Bibi is weaker than before.

What part of Lapid's statement, "we will not join the obstructionist bloc of Haneen Zoabis", do you not understand?

You do not remember that Bibi and likud had 27 seats 4 years ago ; he was the second strongest; Livini and Kadiam had 28 and got nothing. Now he has 31 seats; Bibi now is the only one who can establish the government; 4 years ago ; Kadima and Livni got the first shot. and failed You need to be the one who can establsih the government not the one with the highest number of seats; Moreover, Bennet got he rest of the seats of Liberman with 12 seats. Shoula is correct that Bibi is stronger because he is the ONLY option now to be the Prime Minister

Israelis want the observant Jews to serve in the army, the middle class to be strengthened and the nation to be strong. We all want peace, but the majority now realize that Israel has no partner to make peace.

been in Israel lately. No, Netanyahu is not stronger after the election as matter of fact he is quite weaker, to the extent it is quite questionable weather he'll be able to form any sort of government, the possibility although remote is that her will actually end up in the opposition. Dear, stick to matters you understand something about, please don't waste our time and space here. Regards.

READ what Netanyahu said in Israel’s first session of the next Knesset: “No one will make peace with a weak and divided Israel,” he stated, “and even if we reach another peace agreement with our neighbors, we will have to be very strong to secure its viability, to deter those who will seek to destroy it and to defend ourselves in the event that it collapses.” In the FIRST session of the next Knesset Netanyahu INFORMED the public about his intended next steps. READ, JUST READ!!!

Before the election Bibi had a small but relatively stable coalition along with people he got on well with like Barak. Now Bibi has has to pick between Bennet who he doesn't seem to get on to well with, the haredi or the backstabbing Lapid whose only ambition is to topple Bibi and become the next PM. He doesn't like his choice of potential partners but he has to chose. Yup Bibi sure is stronger now than before the election.

"My father made him an offer he couldn't refuse...Luca Brasi held a gun to his head, and my father assured him that either his brains or his signature would be on the contract." -- The Godfather (1972)

uprooting Jews from our land;preventing Jews to naturally build in our land;turning Israel into an indefensible little piece of land;delivering more land to cruel enemies. We must had learnt already not to repeat mistakes! These "piece talks" must end!

Netanyahu will remain strong as long as he does not try to play with the others in the coalitions as puppets to push his own agendas. He will remain strong if he understands that the voters want a more united, more equal Israeli society, and Israel's future also depends on such unity and equality. Thus Netanyahu has to let the other parties to push with their internal agendas, trying to solve those society issues that weaken Israel both internally and externally. Only a united, and strong Israel can stand up against international pressure, or even better, change international pressure to appreciation.

Arab domination.

Why then did Bibi have to meet with Livni if he can get 80 votes? Why did he always want Livni? Why? Why is he always trying to avoid the religious like a plague? Why? Why did he want Barak when he handed almost all of Jerusalem to the PA when Barak was PM? Why? Are there no better defense ministers in all of Israel? Why does he always want to join leftists? Why? Likud or L. Beiteinu won't be stronger, but weaker. Bibi honestly ticked me off!!

I understand how you feel right about now. But you do indeed have a Partner Who will bring peace. He is G-d, the G-d of Israel. He alone has been with you, and for you since the days of Issac, Jacob, and Israel. I cannot fathom His ways. But His personal support and protection to Jews can be discovered day-by-day. Shalom.

The 31 seats are the total votes obtained by TWO PARTIES that ran on one list ie Likud + Israel Beitaynu.In effect Likud won only 21 seats ,the other 10 came from Liebermans party.

For some time now I have been wondering where your brains are. Its all clear now.

Mr. Raanana, your presence in Raanana has not helped your distorted thinking. Although the margin was narrow, the Prime Minister has a clear mandate to rule.

Shoula is desperate for a fig-leaf for her preferred rightist gov't...why does she want to hide her extremist, nationalist /religious agenda from the world? Embarrassed to be no different to the Iranians and Palestinians she despises? Bad news, Lapid is not going to be the fig leaf Barak was. The Haredi parties will be out or lose almost all influence. Netanyahu prefers survival to all policy positions and will have no problem sitting with Livni, Mofaz and Shelly to do so.

The new Israeli government must standup to Barack Obama who will demand dangerous concessions from Israel without demanding anything from the Arabs. The appointment of the incompetent and anti-Semitic Chuck Hagel is only the first shot in Obama's onslaught against Israel

There is no mandate to rule till a balanced budget is presented. If such a small document cannot be presented a government cannot be formed.

Opposition should join and also work to present a balanced budget. I think that is the alternative to the government.Whichever group is able to will form the government.

This article assumes Lapid is a political prostitute, which clearly he is not. Lapid has written clear articles to this effect for years. On the other hand, Netanyahu is a leaf which bends in the wind. Centrists need to unite and present an alternative to a government led by Netanyahu. This will bend Bibi and convince him that Haredim need to remain outside the coalition. The consistent Israeli voter will then be the clear winner, no matter which side forms the next government.

While the emasculated Leftists and Zoabis will languish in the opposition, Lapid is going to join a center-right Netanyahu-led government to enact his party pledge for equal share of the burden, which is a purely internal Israeli issue. With regards to the so-called 'peace process', which is what the world "cares" about, Lapid and Bibi are on the same page: Indivisiblity of Jerusalem, annexation of all the settlement blocks including Ariel, and negotiations without preconditions. Those that had a problem with that voted for Livni, Yaklumovich, Zehava, and Zoabi.

Nobody will want to lose money supporting your unreasonable forecast. Lapid and Bibi are not on the same page, but Bibi can be bent to join anybody's plan. This is what Lieberman counted on. Lapid has a commitment to his electorate not to agree with policies of the past, so Bibi will have to bend toward Lapid.

His main social issue no yo allow the prices of housing to drop. Higher prices feed wealthy and middle class who own appartments to rent poor and foreigners. A problem is that his people want him to be a Foreign minister because it is assume that FM have to visit place, speak, and nothing more

There will be no government with lapid and haredim: 80 members. The right lost and is still thinking wishfully.