New Information Regarding R.Elyashiv's Statement

It has been reported this evening that the news stories (see earlier post) regarding Rabbi Elyahsiv's pronouncement that there can be no political compromise on civil marriages in Israel, were false. He has apparently made no such statements.

Rabbis who are close to the religious leader said "Rabbi Elyashiv did not rule out the possibility of civil marriage between non-Jews" and suggested that the rumors were started by Kadima in an effort to undermine the coalition building efforts being undertaken by Netanyahu. (Source:INNews)

Coalition Negotiations Continue As Livni Rejects Unity Government

The negotiations for coalition partners took a definite turn today when Bibi's second meeting with Livni produced no results towards a unity government. Netanyahu will now need to shore up his natural partners on the right.

(The following discussion has been reported now to be incorrect information. It has been suggested that it was a rumor started by Kadima to thwart the coalition building being undertaken by Bibi Netanyahu. See my later post. I am leaving it in until we know what the correct story is, and if it turns out to be true that Kadima started this rumor for such a purpose, it will show an example of the lengths Livni will go to to unseat Netanyahu.)
What is worrisome today, however, is the announcement by Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, a leading rabbi of the ashkenazi haredim, stating that there could be no compromise on civil marriages within Israel. The ashkenazi haredim are represented by UTJ (United Torah Judaism) and they hold 5 seats in the upcoming Knesset. This announcement could make it difficult for UTJ to sit with Yisrael Beiteinu, whose platform includes civil marriage. If they refuse to sit in the government then Bibi cannot form a majority and we would have to go to elections again.

It should be noted that the civil unions being discussed are NOT for Jews in Israel, but for non-Jews, who cannot get married according to Jewish law anyway. There are no civil unions of any kind allowed in Israel. Non-Jewish residents and citizens who are not part of a religious community must leave the country to get married, and it goes without saying that it is financially prohibitive to have family and friends accompany them for the ceremony.

It's a more complicated subject than I wish to cover in this post, but to make this a stumbling block to forming a government is simply unacceptable, in my opinion. Shas, which represents the sephardic haredim is not opposed to civil unions for non-Jews, and while Shas wields its own club on other matters, it at least is thinking a bit more clearly in this case.

Hopefully, because the rabbi who made this proclamation is not the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi (who is Yona Metzger), the UTJ may not be bound to obey. My understanding is that it is an opinion rather than a ruling. Rabbi Elayshiv is considered a great halachic authority by the haredim however, and they may have difficulty disregarding his opinion. Yisrael Beiteinu, for it's part, dropped the positioning of the civil union issue to the bottom of it's list. Perhaps they could drop it altogether as a condition for joining, but still work very hard to see it passed as a part of the next government.

In our precarious world situation, it behooves all parties to not be so dogmatic.

Next week will bring more coalition news and hopefully some progress.

Meanwhile we are all a little wiped out here in Israel. Sorry for the absence in posts this week...be back on Sunday after Shabbat ...or before.

Text of Netanyahu's Statement at HaNassi

The following is the text of Bibi Netanyahu's statement on Friday February 20, 2009, after receiving the charge from President Shimon Peres to form the next government.

Mr President,

I deeply appreciate your lifelong commitment to the State of Israel and your tireless work on its behalf, which have continued these past few days.

I accept the task you have assigned me with humility and with a profound appreciation for the enormous responsibility that you have placed upon me -- the responsibility to achieve security for our country, peace with our neighbors and unity among our people.

Mr. President,

As President of Israel, as a great Israeli patriot, you have rightly spoken of the need, also expressed by most members of the Knesset, for unity.

Because at this fateful hour, the state of Israel faces enormous challenges. Iran is developing nuclear weapons and poses the greatest threat to our existence since our War of Independence. Iran’s terror proxies confront us in the North and South and the worst global economic crisis in the last 80 years threatens the jobs and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Israelis.

For many decades, Israel has not faced an accumulation of so many great challenges at one time.

Faced with such extraordinary challenges, we need a new attitude, a different attitude, an attitude that expresses national unity.

These great challenges obligate us to work together and to unite all the forces within our people. I call on the members of all the parties, both those who recommended me [to the President] and those who did not recommend me, to put politics aside and to place the good of the country first.

I turn first of all to the chairwoman of Kadima, Tzipi Livni and the chairman of the Labor Party, Ehud Barak and say, let’s join hands and work together to secure the future of the State of Israel.

I ask to meet with you first to discuss forming a national unity government for the sake of our people and the country.

I know that we have different approaches on many important issues but I also know that we are all committed to working for the benefit of our country and our common future.

That is why I believe that, given the seriousness of the hour and the needs of our country, we can find common ground and a common path that will lead Israel to security, prosperity and peace.

The great tragedies in the history of our people happened when we did not unite in the face of great challenges. But the opposite is true as well. The great victories occurred when we put our differences aside and stood together as one during moments of truth. Today, we face such a moment of truth.

Let us unite, let us join together and ensure our future, our children’s future and our country’s future.

www.en.netanyahu.org.il

Netanyahu and Iran

With Netanyahu emerging as the upcoming Prime Minister of Israel, so much of the focus is on whether or not he will disrupt the precious "peace" plans that the world, including our departing government leaders, have tried to impose upon us.

Very few have really listened to what came out of his mouth in his first statements. It wasn't about the Palestinian State or our relationship with Europe and America, about which Olmert and Livni were so paranoid.

His first words at a ceremony held at Beit HaNassi had to do with the existential threat from Iran. He said briefly that Iran's drive for nuclear weapons poses "the gravest threat to our existence since the war of independence." Netanyahu has been speaking on this for many years...but few have listened.

His strong words eerily coincided with the news this week that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) "suddenly discovered" that Iran does in fact have enough low grade uranium to develop a nuclear bomb right away.

One of the few media outlets taking notice was Investor's Business Daily (IBD). In a stunning editorial that reflects the sobering reality of our precarious world, IBD compares Netanyahu's emerging role vis a vis Ahmadinejad with Churchill's role vis a vis Hitler.

Read this very important article at Investor's Business Daily, entitled Ahmadinejad Vs. Netanyahu.

(hyperlink provided with permission from Investor's Business Daily)

Likud to Kadima to Likud Once Again?

What I have been mulling around in my mind the last few days was just published in the evening news medias: If Tzipi Livni refuses a unity government with Likud, then several key Kadima members may return to Likud - having jumped ship earlier when Ariel Sharon broke away and formed the new Kadima party.

I am appalled however that Bibi is still mentioning Barak to continue as Defense Minister (and for that matter, Livni as Foreign Minister). I am assuming he feels that under his leadership they would act differently. These suggestions are from the media and not necessarily out of Netanyahu's mouth, so whether they are really still true or not, we cannot be certain. One report tonight said that Bibi was even willing to give Livni veto power over government decisions. Such a position would certainly undermine and undercut the wishes of the electorate for a right wing government.

Bibi is rightfully very concerned that a strong opposition could block every move a right wing government tries to make. So, while a unity government has some advantages, it would have to be carefully put together. It seems to me that some of the good people in Kadima coming over to Likud would give Netanyahu the best of both worlds. An addition of capable centrists to his government would give the broader base he is seeking, but he wouldn't be stymied by the beligerence of Livni and Barak.

At the same time, Kadimas position in the opposition would be weakened. Bibi is still stinging from what he perceives to be his mistake in the late 90's to not form a unity government, but he needs to be very thoughtful and careful, not reactive as he puts this coalition together.

Peres Charges Netanyahu With Task of Forming Government

The immediate wait is over. Today Peres made the decision to charge Bibi Netanyahu with the task of forming the government coalition rather than waiting until Sunday as he had indicated. It appears he had little choice, as Livni made it very clear she would not sit with Netanyahu. Bibi, for his part will continue to press for the unity government, as he feels it will be advantageous to have a broader coalition.

More on Sunday. We can all rest a little better over Shabbat now that the decision has been officially made and communicated. B'H

Shabbat Shalom

Addendum To The Day's Politics

Latest is that Peres will meet with Livni and Netanyahu separately, expecting to appeal to them to form a unity government. Interestingly, it is Livni who doesn't want it, Bibi feels it would be advantageous. I don't know, I'm a bit nervous for what Peres might pull in the 11th hour. I hope it goes smoothly tomorrow and Bibi will be given the charge, however, for some reason, Peres is indicating he won't make his announcement until Sunday. Why so long?...the mandate is clear.

In the meetings with President Peres, Labor's Ophir Pines-Paz had something interesting to say about Netanyahu. Discussing who Labor would or would not recommend, it was reported that Pines-Paz said "....Netanyahu is a political, ideological adversary and we do not share the same views," .... "We respect him, but we cannot recommend him. We share some views with Livni, but unfortunately, she opted for Yisrael Beiteinu over the Left in hopes for a rotation with Bibi. She made it easier for us in that sense, by choosing not to be a part of us." (color highlighting mine)

I found it interesting and important that for all the disagreements and negative attacks, this Labor Knesset member still held respect for Bibi. It says a lot for who Bibi is, but also Pines-Paz. I'm not a Pines-Paz fan, but I find it commendable that he spoke in such a way.

7:00 pm Update

The last meeting is taking place at Beit HaNassi (House of the President), or perhaps is finished. This final meeting was with United Torah Judaism which already signed an agreement with Bibi Netanyahu.

Ichud Leumi endorsed Likud this afternoon, and all three Arab parties abstained, that is they recommended no one. So, with UTJ's recommendation for Likud, the Netanyahu led party will garner the 65 seats projected for them, with Kadima at only 28.

This parallels exactly what the voters wanted, and no matter how Tzipi Livni tries to say the people elected her, not Bibi, it just doesn't line up with the reality of the vote.

Livni continues to state that she will not sit in a Netanyahu led government, and will head to the opposition, joining Labor, Meretz, and the three Arab parties.

Nonetheless, Peres continues to state that he will invite BOTH Netanyahu and Livni to Beit HaNassi tomorrow, presumably to discuss a unity government and to try to persuade both parties to join together.

Quite frankly, this is very annoying, and since the President has the final say to do (unilaterally) whatever he wants, he COULD bypass the will of people and recommend Livni. He could, but I don't think he will. Of course, should he do that, there would be enormous public uproar, AND she can't put together a coalition anyway, so it would fall back to Bibi in the end. It would simply waste precious time and leave the three stooges in limbo power for another couple of months. omg. Let's hope Peres will heed Livni's objection to joining a unity government, and simply hand the request over to Bibi as he should.

I need to remind the readers however, that it's not over yet. !! Now, comes the task of actually putting together the coalition. There will be demands and expectations, and a lot of hammering out of details. There will be budget expectations from each of the parties for certain ministries and programs, and all this will take a while.

Then once the coalition is in place, the budget has to be passed by the whole Knesset, which, remember, will include the opposition. Hmmm. Can you see some dilemmas rising up?

Tomorrow I will briefly discuss the power or lack of power that the opposition parties have and what it means for a government here in Israel when the entire sitting government is right wing, and an entire strong opposition is left wing.

For now, let's wait for Peres to give Bibi the nod...hopefully tomorrow, before Shabbat.

News Flash : Shas recommends Netanyahu Bringing Likud total to 56

Shas has completed their recommendation meeting with President Peres, endorsing Bibi Netanyahu for the next government:

This gives Likud 56 seats so far, with Kadima at 28 seats

Updating as we go...

Lieberman recommends Netanyahu

The recommendations by the Knesset parties are starting to trickle in, but the suspenseful waiting for Avigdor Lieberman's vote is now over. Yisrael Beiteinu has recommended Likud for the party best able to put together a coalition.

He added a caveat however, and tried to stipulate it was conditioned on Livni being in the government. Actually there are conflicting reports as to whether he states it as a qualification for his support, or simply a desire on his part to see Livni in the government.

Bibi has said that they also seek a broad coalition, so it was already a given. The question remains of course, whether or not Kadima will sit in a unity government with Netanyahu at the head, and with Shas in the coalition. One news flash on Haaretz indicates Livni has signaled that they will lead the opposition and not sit in the government. This isn't necessarily a good thing for the national camp...it's hetze/hetze (half/half) which I will explain later.

Labor and Meretz are recommending no one. Here is the breakdown so far available in the English press:

Recommendations:
Kadima (28 seats): Kadima
Likud (27 seats): Likud
Labor: No one
Jewish Home (3 seats): Likud
Meretz: No one
Balad (Arab): No one
Yisrael Beiteinu (15 seats): Likud
Shas: Meeting as we speak
Ichud Leumi:
United Torah Judaism:
Hadash (Arab/Jewish)
Ra'am-Ta'al (Arab):

Officially at this point, Kadima has 28 seats and Likud has 45 seats. The expectations are for Shas, Ichud Leumi and UTJ to go with Likud which would give them 20 more seats or 65 total. The Arab parties are expected to follow suit with Balad and Labor and abstain from recommendation.

One never knows in the last minute what the remaining parties will do for sure, so it's not over til it's over....or "someone" sings as they say......so stay tuned.

Meetings Underway - Peres Makes Headlines

At this hour, a few blocks away, Israeli President Shimon Peres is meeting with Kadima, and shortly thereafter will meet with Likud as the selection process begins. Election Judge Eliezer Rivlin turned over the official election readings to the President earlier this evening and stated that there were no abnormalities. (There had been several reports of abnormalities on election day, but...they seem to either have been forgotten, or were in fact, corrected, or ...who knows?)

Tomorrow Peres will meet with Avigdor Lieberman, Yisrael Beiteinu, discussing to whom Lieberman will throw the weight of his 15 Knesset seats.

The biggest news of the day for the national camp, however, is Shimon Peres's admission that the withdrawal from Gush Katif was implemented in an incorrect way, and he was wrong about how he thought about it. Early reports about his statement were sometimes headlined in a way that looked like he felt he was wrong about supporting the withdrawal altogether.

The President's office was quick to correct that misconception, explaining he was FOR the withdrawal, just not the way it was implemented, especially the lack of coordination with the Palestinian Authority.

Whew, for a moment I thought that the President....ah, well, I guess I will refrain from further comment on this one.

On Hold

It seems that whole world is on hold (and on edge) a little bit, waiting for the elections results here in Israel to be finalized and a new government to be formed. Nations and heads of nations are offering their opinions and their threats.

Such a tiny country, yet such world wide intrigue.

We are all waiting to see who will be the Prime Minister and what his government will look like - the "64 thousand dollar (shekel) questions."

Speaking of shekels and dollars, the dollar is very high against the shekel right now, as Stanley Fischer, head of the Bank of Israel, continues to buy dollars continues talk of dropping interest rates even more. All this to stave off more fall out from the economic woes in America, where Obama's stimulus package is the biggest news.

Still, when you read an article like one published by Israel National News, stating that Washington might extend some behind the scenes manipulations and meddling to force a unity government with Kadima and Likud, one has to wonder ...doesn't America have enough of it's OWN problems not to try in meddle in ours???

I don't know if such statements are true or not, but we do know that several US Presidents have definitely interfered in Israel's elections in the past. Bill Clinton even sent his ambassador to openly campaign for Shimon Peres when Bibi ran for office in 1996. It is certainly not unprecedented.

Waiting for Thursday........or maybe even tomorrow.......