Time to listen. Livni
Photo: Tal Shahar
Advice for Livni
Narrow rightist government certain recipe for subsequent leftist victory
In the months leading up to the elections, Benjamin Netanyahu told anyone willing to listen that a unity government is his strategic objective. However, on election night, alarmed by a cosmetic inferiority vis-à-vis Kadima, he was quick to present himself as the leader of the “National Camp” and declared that “our bloc won.”
He did not have the poise, the sense of leadership, and the wisdom required to immediately pledge to only head a broad government. He did not take a deep breath and count to 10; as usual, he was sweating.
Stands
Attila Somfalvi
Following closed meeting with Livni, Prime minister-designate convinced Kadima won't join Likud-led coalition; Kadima leader: Bibi did not respond positively to question of whether he would strive for a two-state solution
Here is a brief historical review: In the last three opportunities where the Right formed a narrow government, it collapsed. Rabin defeated Shamir after two years of such government. Ehud Barak crushed Netanyahu after three years. Meanwhile, the narrow government formed by Ariel Sharon ended with the Likud splitting and Kadima’s establishment.
The reason for this is simple. The diplomatic-security doctrine of the center-Left camp may be problematic, filled with contradictions, and poked with holes like Swiss cheese, yet the Right’s doctrine is simply impossible.
As opposed to the common perception, the 2009 Netanyahu has not moderated. He may have softened in terms of his personal conduct, yet his ideological positions have been greatly radicalized. This is no longer the Netanyahu who spoke about making a secure peace and insisted on reciprocity vis-à-vis the Palestinians.
Livni’s training grounds
This was replaced by a stubborn rejection of diplomatic solutions, with no peace or reciprocity. To his credit, we shall note the even the elections frenzy did not cause him to break to the Center, as is customary.
Meanwhile, Livni’s great mass of voters came from the Left. We cannot have a situation whereby those who enlisted voters with the slogan “It’s either Tzipi or Bibi” will turn into the cornerstone of Netanyahu’s government.
The opposition will benefit Livni in another respect. Thus far, she has proven meager skills on the political court. In the two opportunities where she attempted to engage in coalition talks, once with Shas and once with Lieberman, she was humiliated. She arrived at the Presidential Residence endorsed only by her own party.
A woman who makes pretenses of leading a bloc that represents roughly half the nation must acquire upgraded political skills and much greater determination on the moral front. As such, the opposition looks like excellent training grounds.
