The coalition building fracas continues in Israel with the Likud and Kadima fighting over who can bring Avigdor Lieberman into their coalition. Lieberman has put forth several demands including creating a citizenship bill that requires loyalty as a condition for Israeli citizenship. Both Kadima and Likud have responded positively to Lieberman’s demands:
Likud: “We believe that all Israeli citizens, let alone the country’s selectmen, must profess their loyalty to the State of Israel.
Kadima: “[Vice Premier Haim] Ramon told Ynet that 90% of Yisrael
Beiteinu’s positions correlate with Kadima’s policy. “Even on the
subject of loyalty and everything concerning national service – we
agree,” he said.”
Today, the Israeli President Shimon Peres is scheduled to officially begin the process of deciding whether Livni or Netanyahu will get the opportunity to form a government. Peres has said he will announce his choice by Friday or Sunday.
With this deadline looming the US administration is evidently getting into the act. Ha’aretz reports that, “in back-channel messages the Obama administration
has made it clear it would like to see a Likud-Kadima unity government
in Jerusalem over a narrow right-wing government which would in all
likelihood result in a freeze in peace talks with the Palestinians.” The peace process is not the only concern. Speaking at Georgetown yesterday, former U.S. ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer referred to Lieberman and admitted, “There will be an image problem for an American
administration to support a government that includes a politician who
was defined as racist.”
Although the Israeli process is still very much in flux, Lieberman’s position looks stronger than ever. Very soon the ball may be in the Obama administration’s court to decide how to handle the very situation Kurtzer is afraid of.
