1. Cabinet: Shalit before Ceasefire
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
The Security Cabinet unanimously agreed shortly after noon Wednesday that Hamas must free kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit before Israel can agree to another ceasefire or open Gaza crossings to commercial traffic.
The decision puts the ball back into the court of Hamas, which has insisted that the soldier will remain in captivity until Israel comes to terms for another truce.
The government and Hamas, through Egyptian mediators, agreed last June to a ceasefire that was supposed to lead to the release of Shalit, who was kidnapped 969 days ago.
However, Hamas immediately broke the truce by firing rocket and mortar shells at the Negev while Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered the IDF not to retaliate until last November, when the rockets reached increasingly closer to Tel Aviv.
The military response failed to stop Hamas, and the government eventually allowed the IDF to launch Operation Cast Lead in late December, invading Gaza but then declaring a ceasefire and withdrawing after three weeks.
During the truce declared in June, Israel closed the Gaza crossings whenever rockets struck. However, the government recently has reversed itself and now allows aid to cross into the region while relying on targeted air strikes as retaliation for continuing rocket attacks and mortar shelling.
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by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
The Security Cabinet unanimously agreed shortly after noon Wednesday that Hamas must free kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit before Israel can agree to another ceasefire or open Gaza crossings to commercial traffic.
The decision puts the ball back into the court of Hamas, which has insisted that the soldier will remain in captivity until Israel comes to terms for another truce.
The government and Hamas, through Egyptian mediators, agreed last June to a ceasefire that was supposed to lead to the release of Shalit, who was kidnapped 969 days ago.
However, Hamas immediately broke the truce by firing rocket and mortar shells at the Negev while Prime Minister Ehud Olmert ordered the IDF not to retaliate until last November, when the rockets reached increasingly closer to Tel Aviv.
The military response failed to stop Hamas, and the government eventually allowed the IDF to launch Operation Cast Lead in late December, invading Gaza but then declaring a ceasefire and withdrawing after three weeks.
During the truce declared in June, Israel closed the Gaza crossings whenever rockets struck. However, the government recently has reversed itself and now allows aid to cross into the region while relying on targeted air strikes as retaliation for continuing rocket attacks and mortar shelling.
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2. 'Olmert Woke Up Late for Shalit'
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Amos Gilad, responsible for negotiations with Hamas via Egyptian mediators, is furious over media reports that he has acted independently and has caused outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to accept unwanted conditions to free the soldier.
The Hebrew-language daily Ma'ariv reported Wednesday morning that Gilad, head of the political-security bureau of the Defense Ministry, accused Olmert of ignoring the return of Shalit until recently.
The Prime Minister several days ago declared that he would not agree to a ceasefire until after a deal is struck with Hamas for the return of Shalit. Egypt previously had understood that the order was the opposite, with a truce followed by freeing the soldier.
"Until now, the Prime Minister has not dealt with this issue at all," he told the newspaper, "Suddenly, they have turned the agenda upside down. Suddenly, first we have to receive Gilad. I don't understand. Where is this leading us--to insult Egypt? To cause them to reject any number [of terrorists we relea?"
Gilad labeled as "lies" allegations that he is acting on his own. "Every word is in writing, and I never met [in Egyp without an Arabic translator and an aide to go over material. I update [Defense Minister E Barak and Olmert before every trip and after my return, usually the same night."
Prime Minister Olmert has stated several times over the past two and a half years that bringing Shalit back home is the most important issue on his agenda.
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by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Amos Gilad, responsible for negotiations with Hamas via Egyptian mediators, is furious over media reports that he has acted independently and has caused outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to accept unwanted conditions to free the soldier.
The Hebrew-language daily Ma'ariv reported Wednesday morning that Gilad, head of the political-security bureau of the Defense Ministry, accused Olmert of ignoring the return of Shalit until recently.
The Prime Minister several days ago declared that he would not agree to a ceasefire until after a deal is struck with Hamas for the return of Shalit. Egypt previously had understood that the order was the opposite, with a truce followed by freeing the soldier.
"Until now, the Prime Minister has not dealt with this issue at all," he told the newspaper, "Suddenly, they have turned the agenda upside down. Suddenly, first we have to receive Gilad. I don't understand. Where is this leading us--to insult Egypt? To cause them to reject any number [of terrorists we relea?"
Gilad labeled as "lies" allegations that he is acting on his own. "Every word is in writing, and I never met [in Egyp without an Arabic translator and an aide to go over material. I update [Defense Minister E Barak and Olmert before every trip and after my return, usually the same night."
Prime Minister Olmert has stated several times over the past two and a half years that bringing Shalit back home is the most important issue on his agenda.
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3. De-Salting to Quench Dry Throats
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Water Authority director Prof. Uri Shani announced Tuesday night a new project to set up five temporary desalination plants with a $300 million price tag to relieve the water crisis.
The plants, unlike larger projects that are underway but will not be completed for three to five years, will be in operation by next year, which still leaves Israelis with the threat of strict rationing this summer.
The cost of building temporary plants to desalinate water from the Mediterranean Sea is double the price of more efficient operations but will give Israel a relatively quick fix to the growing water shortage.
The temporary facilities will be deactivated after the long-term plants begin pumping water starting in 2012. Smaller plants already are in operation but provide only a small fraction of the increasing demand for water.
The Neviot bottled mineral water firm also is affected by the drought and has warned investors that profits may be adversely affected by the recent halt in production due to a drop in water quality from higher than desirable contamination in depleting natural springs.
"The company's sole business and only source of revenue is the production of mineral water and beverages based on mineral water, and the spring at Ein Zahav is the sole source of water used by the company for mineral water used to make its products," it stated.
"The company currently has no alternative solutions to the ongoing damage to the water quality at the spring."
Meteorologists are poring over weather maps that indicate a massive winter storm is headed for Israel late Friday and may drop 2-4 inches of rain before it moves out on Monday. Snow may fall in Tzfat, and there is a chance of a second rain system arriving in mid-week.
However, it will take half a dozen more storms before Israelis can count on watering gardens and washing cars at will this summer.
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by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Water Authority director Prof. Uri Shani announced Tuesday night a new project to set up five temporary desalination plants with a $300 million price tag to relieve the water crisis.
The plants, unlike larger projects that are underway but will not be completed for three to five years, will be in operation by next year, which still leaves Israelis with the threat of strict rationing this summer.
The cost of building temporary plants to desalinate water from the Mediterranean Sea is double the price of more efficient operations but will give Israel a relatively quick fix to the growing water shortage.
The temporary facilities will be deactivated after the long-term plants begin pumping water starting in 2012. Smaller plants already are in operation but provide only a small fraction of the increasing demand for water.
The Neviot bottled mineral water firm also is affected by the drought and has warned investors that profits may be adversely affected by the recent halt in production due to a drop in water quality from higher than desirable contamination in depleting natural springs.
"The company's sole business and only source of revenue is the production of mineral water and beverages based on mineral water, and the spring at Ein Zahav is the sole source of water used by the company for mineral water used to make its products," it stated.
"The company currently has no alternative solutions to the ongoing damage to the water quality at the spring."
Meteorologists are poring over weather maps that indicate a massive winter storm is headed for Israel late Friday and may drop 2-4 inches of rain before it moves out on Monday. Snow may fall in Tzfat, and there is a chance of a second rain system arriving in mid-week.
However, it will take half a dozen more storms before Israelis can count on watering gardens and washing cars at will this summer.
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4. Hamas Stole UN Weapons in Gaza
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Hamas stole tons of explosives, weapons and unexploded bombs that it was guarding for the United Nations, which gathered the ordnance during Operation Cast Lead. The Hamas guard has disappeared along with the bombs and explosives.
The discovery of missing weapons, first revealed by British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC), is the latest in a number of embarrassing episodes for the U.N. and United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Israeli military spokesman Peter Lerner charged Hamas with "commandeering" the bombs, explosives and artillery shells.
Israel previously has proven that Hamas has used U.N. facilities to attack Israeli civilians and soldiers, and the terrorist organization has routinely stolen humanitarian aid delivered to U.N. groups.
"We are anxious to get the return of this ordnance," U.N. Jerusalem spokesman Richard Miron told the BBC. "It's clearly extremely dangerous and needs to be disposed of in a safe manner.
The U.N. has been trying to remove and neutralize the explosives but has charged Israel with delaying the work by not permitting entry of equipment and not approving an area for detonation.
However, Israel two weeks ago approved a storage site near Gaza City for three one-ton bombs and eight smaller ones which did not explode after being dropped by Israeli planes. U.N. officials stored the bombs along with several large artillery shells in the warehouse and discovered on Sunday that the weapons were missing.
Several bombs that the U.N. collected have been drowned in water and then buried in Gaza's sand.
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by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
Hamas stole tons of explosives, weapons and unexploded bombs that it was guarding for the United Nations, which gathered the ordnance during Operation Cast Lead. The Hamas guard has disappeared along with the bombs and explosives.
The discovery of missing weapons, first revealed by British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC), is the latest in a number of embarrassing episodes for the U.N. and United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Israeli military spokesman Peter Lerner charged Hamas with "commandeering" the bombs, explosives and artillery shells.
Israel previously has proven that Hamas has used U.N. facilities to attack Israeli civilians and soldiers, and the terrorist organization has routinely stolen humanitarian aid delivered to U.N. groups.
"We are anxious to get the return of this ordnance," U.N. Jerusalem spokesman Richard Miron told the BBC. "It's clearly extremely dangerous and needs to be disposed of in a safe manner.
The U.N. has been trying to remove and neutralize the explosives but has charged Israel with delaying the work by not permitting entry of equipment and not approving an area for detonation.
However, Israel two weeks ago approved a storage site near Gaza City for three one-ton bombs and eight smaller ones which did not explode after being dropped by Israeli planes. U.N. officials stored the bombs along with several large artillery shells in the warehouse and discovered on Sunday that the weapons were missing.
Several bombs that the U.N. collected have been drowned in water and then buried in Gaza's sand.
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5. Shalit Caught in Middle of Spins
by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
The latest demand by Hamas that it help patrol the border at Egypt as a new condition for the freedom of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit is the latest of one of dozens of twists and turns by the terrorist organization and the Olmert government the past two and a half years.
Both sides have exploited the Israeli media to create impressions, some true and some false, while several newspapers and broadcast channels have adopted the government agenda.
Gaza-based Hamas political advisor Ahmed Yousef revealed the new demand to WorldNetDaily. Several hours earlier, Khaled Mashaal, the Syrian-based overall head of Hamas, contradicted reports that Gaza officials agreed to a demand by outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that the soldier be freed before another ceasefire pact is announced.
Hamas and the Israeli government have taken various positions since Shalit was kidnapped on June 25, 2006. Numerous reports have floated for the past two years about an "imminent" deal to free Shalit, and demands from both sides changed almost daily every time another report surfaced.
Spokesmen and officials often float trial balloons through selected Israeli media that generally has been uncritical of the government and often has keyed its coverage towards freeing Shalit at any price.
Olmert in 2006: No Negotiations
Prime Minister Olmert told the Cabinet one week after Shalit's capture, "Everyone knows that capitulating to terrorism today means inviting the next act of terrorism. We will not do this." Several days later he told Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, "This is not a matter of negotiations. Release of prisoners is absolutely not on the agenda of the Israeli government."
However, almost no media outlet has recalled the statements or his promise not to return to negotiations with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas without Shalit safely home.
Noam Shalit, father of the soldier, said during Operation Cast Lead that Israel had a rare opportunity to bring back his son along with IDF soldiers fighting against Hamas. However, the media never questioned the government after it withdrew and left Shalit as "the last Jew in Gaza."
Israeli newspapers and electronic media, most notably Reshet Bet (Voice of Israel government radio) and Channel One television, have attempted to show "balance" by quoting relatives of terror victims for and against releasing terrorists "with blood on their hands" in return for Shalit.
However, heavy coverage has been given to emotional appeals by Shalit's parents, who have met with world leaders, none of whom have even succeeded in persuading the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to demand that Hamas honor the Geneva Convention and allow its officials to visit Shalit.
Giving up Shalit will leave Hamas without its strongest trump card, which Hamas has played to the hilt. The soldier's parents, backed by dovish groups, now are appealing daily for the government to "pay whatever price Hamas names" and end their son's ordeal.
Hamas leaders and spokesmen have exploited the family's psychological duress as well as the media. They frequently have upped or change demands, following with charges that the Israeli government is to blame for not concluding an agreement.
Mabat: Ketzaleh and Noam Shalit
Tuesday night, Channel One Mabat's news program showed adamant Ichud Leumi (National Union) leaders who warned that no one can say he "did not spill blood" if he approves releasing murderers. They pointed out that many previously released terrroists have returned to continue killing Israelis.
Click here for a video interview with National Union Leader Yaakov Katz
Channel One journalist Ayala Hasson immediately followed with an interview with Shalit's father Noam, asking him what he thinks about the position of the National Union. After he responded that "we understand the pain" of terror victims and that "no one is right" on the entire issue, she dropped the line of questioning and asked him if he is involved in the indirect talks between Hamas and Israel.
The father said he has no inside information but added, "We have told officials that there can be no agreement with Hamas without freeing Gilad. We saw that last June when there was an agreement but no progress."
His answer appeared to lead to criticism of Prime Minister Olmert, and Hasson interrupted him and suggested that it will be more difficult to free Shalit if the current government does not do so.
Nationalist critics have charged Prime Minister Olmert with playing politics and putting his own personal reputation above national security by changing his stand and offering to free convicted suicide bombing attack organizers in order to secure Shalit.
The Prime Minister is to present to the Security Cabinet on Wednesday the conditions of a new agreement with Hamas.
Shalit is believed to be alive and well, although Almagor Terror Victims Association director Meir Indor has expressed fears that Shalit suffers from the "Stockholm syndrome," in which the victim adopts the cause of his captors.
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by Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu
The latest demand by Hamas that it help patrol the border at Egypt as a new condition for the freedom of kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit is the latest of one of dozens of twists and turns by the terrorist organization and the Olmert government the past two and a half years.
Both sides have exploited the Israeli media to create impressions, some true and some false, while several newspapers and broadcast channels have adopted the government agenda.
Gaza-based Hamas political advisor Ahmed Yousef revealed the new demand to WorldNetDaily. Several hours earlier, Khaled Mashaal, the Syrian-based overall head of Hamas, contradicted reports that Gaza officials agreed to a demand by outgoing Prime Minister Ehud Olmert that the soldier be freed before another ceasefire pact is announced.
Hamas and the Israeli government have taken various positions since Shalit was kidnapped on June 25, 2006. Numerous reports have floated for the past two years about an "imminent" deal to free Shalit, and demands from both sides changed almost daily every time another report surfaced.
Spokesmen and officials often float trial balloons through selected Israeli media that generally has been uncritical of the government and often has keyed its coverage towards freeing Shalit at any price.
Olmert in 2006: No Negotiations
Prime Minister Olmert told the Cabinet one week after Shalit's capture, "Everyone knows that capitulating to terrorism today means inviting the next act of terrorism. We will not do this." Several days later he told Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, "This is not a matter of negotiations. Release of prisoners is absolutely not on the agenda of the Israeli government."
However, almost no media outlet has recalled the statements or his promise not to return to negotiations with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas without Shalit safely home.
Noam Shalit, father of the soldier, said during Operation Cast Lead that Israel had a rare opportunity to bring back his son along with IDF soldiers fighting against Hamas. However, the media never questioned the government after it withdrew and left Shalit as "the last Jew in Gaza."
Israeli newspapers and electronic media, most notably Reshet Bet (Voice of Israel government radio) and Channel One television, have attempted to show "balance" by quoting relatives of terror victims for and against releasing terrorists "with blood on their hands" in return for Shalit.
However, heavy coverage has been given to emotional appeals by Shalit's parents, who have met with world leaders, none of whom have even succeeded in persuading the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to demand that Hamas honor the Geneva Convention and allow its officials to visit Shalit.
Giving up Shalit will leave Hamas without its strongest trump card, which Hamas has played to the hilt. The soldier's parents, backed by dovish groups, now are appealing daily for the government to "pay whatever price Hamas names" and end their son's ordeal.
Hamas leaders and spokesmen have exploited the family's psychological duress as well as the media. They frequently have upped or change demands, following with charges that the Israeli government is to blame for not concluding an agreement.
Mabat: Ketzaleh and Noam Shalit
Tuesday night, Channel One Mabat's news program showed adamant Ichud Leumi (National Union) leaders who warned that no one can say he "did not spill blood" if he approves releasing murderers. They pointed out that many previously released terrroists have returned to continue killing Israelis.
Click here for a video interview with National Union Leader Yaakov Katz
Channel One journalist Ayala Hasson immediately followed with an interview with Shalit's father Noam, asking him what he thinks about the position of the National Union. After he responded that "we understand the pain" of terror victims and that "no one is right" on the entire issue, she dropped the line of questioning and asked him if he is involved in the indirect talks between Hamas and Israel.
The father said he has no inside information but added, "We have told officials that there can be no agreement with Hamas without freeing Gilad. We saw that last June when there was an agreement but no progress."
His answer appeared to lead to criticism of Prime Minister Olmert, and Hasson interrupted him and suggested that it will be more difficult to free Shalit if the current government does not do so.
Nationalist critics have charged Prime Minister Olmert with playing politics and putting his own personal reputation above national security by changing his stand and offering to free convicted suicide bombing attack organizers in order to secure Shalit.
The Prime Minister is to present to the Security Cabinet on Wednesday the conditions of a new agreement with Hamas.
Shalit is believed to be alive and well, although Almagor Terror Victims Association director Meir Indor has expressed fears that Shalit suffers from the "Stockholm syndrome," in which the victim adopts the cause of his captors.
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6. Closing a Full Circle at Mercaz
by IsraelNN Staff
The baby son of the hero who killed the murderer in the March 2008 Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva slaughter was ritually circumcised on Monday by the father of one of the victims - at the yeshiva.
Israel National News presents a 6-minute video feature.
click here to watch the exclusive footage.
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by IsraelNN Staff
The baby son of the hero who killed the murderer in the March 2008 Mercaz HaRav Yeshiva slaughter was ritually circumcised on Monday by the father of one of the victims - at the yeshiva.
Israel National News presents a 6-minute video feature.
click here to watch the exclusive footage.
Comment on this story
7. Bibi Tough With Lieberman?
by Hillel Fendel
As President Shimon Peres prepares to begin the process of choosing Israel’s potential Prime Minister, front-runner Binyamin Netanyahu is asked to get tough with Avigdor Lieberman, who is playing the “spoiler” role.
The arithmetic of the coalition talks is as follows: Kadima is the largest party with 28 Knesset seats, but the bloc that it heads – the non-Arab center-left – numbers only 44. On the other hand, the Likud has only 27 seats, but its natural allies in the national camp give it 65 seats, a majority of the 120-member Knesset.
Kadima’s only hope of forming a coalition is to entice Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) party (15 seats) into a national unity government with the Likud. Kadima leader Tzipi Livni has, in fact, reached a partial understanding with Lieberman – but this still does not address the fact that the Likud refuses to join a Kadima-led government under any circumstances.
Likud leader Netanyahu is thus the natural choice for Peres to choose to put together a government, most pundits and political sources feel. Even leading Kadima figures have been saying, off the record, that Livni has no chance of putting together a governing coalition. At most, some of them – such as Ministers Chaim Ramon and Tzachi HaNegbi - are hoping for a rotation government, which the Likud has turned down.
This then leaves the question of Avigdor Lieberman and what he hopes to gain from his contacts with Kadima. Unnamed top Likud sources say that if Lieberman is trying to raise his price for his entry into a Likud government, it may backfire on him. “If he doesn't recommend Netanyahu to Peres, he may find himself out of our government altogether,” they say. This, because Netanyahu could potentially form a unity government of up to 78 seats with Kadima and the religious and nationalist parties.
In addition, as has been widely noted, the 12.5% of the populace who voted for Lieberman’s Israel Our Home, making it the country’s 3rd-largest party, are overwhelmingly right-wing. It is unlikely that they would forgive him were he to choose Livni over Netanyahu.
Netanyahu himself is trying to reach Lieberman via the latter’s voters. In an interview with the Russian-language Channel 9 TV station, Netanyahu said, “I am the only MK who can form a government.”
However, this is not enough for many in the nationalist camp. Given the likelihood that Peres will choose Netanyahu to form Israel’s next government, many of them are looking to Netanyahu to show more strength vis-à-vis Lieberman. Golan Heights spokesman Uri Heitner, for instance, headlined the Wednesday edition of his widely-read blog, “Netanyahu’s Test of Leadership.”
Heitner wrote, “The brilliant trick by Lieberman [in reaching understandings with Liv places a challenge of leadership before Netanyahu. Will he blink first, give in and show weakness towards Lieberman, or will he act like a true leader and conduct tough negotiations with him?”
Heitner continued:
“Lieberman is playing with cards that he does not have. He knows that Livni can’t form a government, and that’s why he’s raising his price with her. He also knows that even with his authoritative leadership, he cannot ignore his own voters’ desires so bald-facedly. He has no choice but to join a Netanyahu government…
"True, his talks with Livni gain him legitimacy, render him a type of kingmaker, and allow him to raise his price with the Likud. He is relying on the weakness Netanyahu has shown in the past under pressure, and hopes that in his fervor to become Prime Minister, he will pay a high price [to Lieberma.
"Netanyahu knows that only he can form a government, even if Livni receives the first chance to do so. He knows that Lieberman knows this, and he knows that Lieberman desires ardently to join the government and does not want to find himself in the opposition to a Netanyahu-Kadima unity government. Netanyahu knows that all the cards are actually in his hands, and that he has no reason to give in. The question is, Will he display strong leadership and conduct tough negotiations with Leiberman, or will he allow himself to be pressured and squeezed? This is his test of leadership.
"The way in which Netanyahu leads the process of forming the government will determine his leadership and image, in Israel and around the world, as he begins his second term as Israel’s Prime Minister.”
Comment on this story
by Hillel Fendel
As President Shimon Peres prepares to begin the process of choosing Israel’s potential Prime Minister, front-runner Binyamin Netanyahu is asked to get tough with Avigdor Lieberman, who is playing the “spoiler” role.
The arithmetic of the coalition talks is as follows: Kadima is the largest party with 28 Knesset seats, but the bloc that it heads – the non-Arab center-left – numbers only 44. On the other hand, the Likud has only 27 seats, but its natural allies in the national camp give it 65 seats, a majority of the 120-member Knesset.
Kadima’s only hope of forming a coalition is to entice Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) party (15 seats) into a national unity government with the Likud. Kadima leader Tzipi Livni has, in fact, reached a partial understanding with Lieberman – but this still does not address the fact that the Likud refuses to join a Kadima-led government under any circumstances.
Likud leader Netanyahu is thus the natural choice for Peres to choose to put together a government, most pundits and political sources feel. Even leading Kadima figures have been saying, off the record, that Livni has no chance of putting together a governing coalition. At most, some of them – such as Ministers Chaim Ramon and Tzachi HaNegbi - are hoping for a rotation government, which the Likud has turned down.
This then leaves the question of Avigdor Lieberman and what he hopes to gain from his contacts with Kadima. Unnamed top Likud sources say that if Lieberman is trying to raise his price for his entry into a Likud government, it may backfire on him. “If he doesn't recommend Netanyahu to Peres, he may find himself out of our government altogether,” they say. This, because Netanyahu could potentially form a unity government of up to 78 seats with Kadima and the religious and nationalist parties.
In addition, as has been widely noted, the 12.5% of the populace who voted for Lieberman’s Israel Our Home, making it the country’s 3rd-largest party, are overwhelmingly right-wing. It is unlikely that they would forgive him were he to choose Livni over Netanyahu.
Netanyahu himself is trying to reach Lieberman via the latter’s voters. In an interview with the Russian-language Channel 9 TV station, Netanyahu said, “I am the only MK who can form a government.”
However, this is not enough for many in the nationalist camp. Given the likelihood that Peres will choose Netanyahu to form Israel’s next government, many of them are looking to Netanyahu to show more strength vis-à-vis Lieberman. Golan Heights spokesman Uri Heitner, for instance, headlined the Wednesday edition of his widely-read blog, “Netanyahu’s Test of Leadership.”
Heitner wrote, “The brilliant trick by Lieberman [in reaching understandings with Liv places a challenge of leadership before Netanyahu. Will he blink first, give in and show weakness towards Lieberman, or will he act like a true leader and conduct tough negotiations with him?”
Heitner continued:
“Lieberman is playing with cards that he does not have. He knows that Livni can’t form a government, and that’s why he’s raising his price with her. He also knows that even with his authoritative leadership, he cannot ignore his own voters’ desires so bald-facedly. He has no choice but to join a Netanyahu government…
"True, his talks with Livni gain him legitimacy, render him a type of kingmaker, and allow him to raise his price with the Likud. He is relying on the weakness Netanyahu has shown in the past under pressure, and hopes that in his fervor to become Prime Minister, he will pay a high price [to Lieberma.
"Netanyahu knows that only he can form a government, even if Livni receives the first chance to do so. He knows that Lieberman knows this, and he knows that Lieberman desires ardently to join the government and does not want to find himself in the opposition to a Netanyahu-Kadima unity government. Netanyahu knows that all the cards are actually in his hands, and that he has no reason to give in. The question is, Will he display strong leadership and conduct tough negotiations with Leiberman, or will he allow himself to be pressured and squeezed? This is his test of leadership.
"The way in which Netanyahu leads the process of forming the government will determine his leadership and image, in Israel and around the world, as he begins his second term as Israel’s Prime Minister.”
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