The Balance of Power in Israel

'SUPPORT ISRAEL' - WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

AIPAC faces an increasingly plain problem: to be "aligned with Israel", today, is to be captive to the orthodox Shas party (let alone the ultranationalist Yisrael Beiteinu).

How do you win the support of the Shas party in coalition politics inside Israel?

Netanyahu to Shas: Don't join Livni, she'll give up Jerusalem

Likud Chairman and opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday met with the spiritual leader of the Shas Party, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, and asked him to instruct the Shas leaders not to join the coalition currently being constructed by prime minister-designate Tzipi Livni, because she will "give up Jerusalem."

-Ha'aretz

On the left, NIS440 million (million!) for "child subsidies" that is deemed to be not enough - ask yourself, what does that subsidize indirectly?

Some people are frustrated that the main parties aren't cooperating to shut out these political extremists.

The truth about who should cooperate with whom? Kadima got the most votes and should be in the lead, not Netanyahu (or Barak). Both Netanyahu and Barak passed up opportunities to form a government with Kadima - Barak's party went on to lose seats and Netanyahu to dramatically gain.

(Asked this week whether he'd consider joining a Livni government, Netanyahu replied that he'd rather join Lehman Brothers.) The head of the dovish Labor Party, Ehud Barak, also said this week that he prefers early elections to a Livni-led government.

-Newsweek

UNSHAKABLE BOND

Therefore, Secretary of State Clinton's comments are off the mark. It is not a question of disagreeing. She should ask herself on what issues does she agree with Shas and so should AIPAC, because they are driving the coalition on key issues in the foreign relationship. After that, they know what to do.

Here's an interesting "I told you so", from Olmert of all places. Clinton should read it to her AIPAC friends.

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