Elections....Israel

      The votes have been cast and fear and racism won over hope . You make peace with your enemies or you continue to dance the " dance of death"( see fig. 1a). Netanyahu and Lieberman preach the politics of hate and exclusion and found a receptive audience among Israelis. Together they campaign, not for the future of Israel but their own selfish ambitions. They have sown the seeds of division and destruction and the crop will be bitterness and death. They are now the captive of the settlers/religious extremists and Israel is diminished as a result, and its prospects are becoming more and more dim.

      The electoral system of P.R. played true to form and not even a viable coalition is possible. The tail will have a lot of fun wagging the dog, especially as the tail is Lieberman and the irredentist and gun-toting settlers. It is a recipe for disaster, unless a Grand Coalition between Kadima, Likud and Labor can be formed. This may seem unlikely, but it has happened before. If ego and ambition and self-interest can be set aside for the greater good of the country, then this potential debacle can be avoided and "the dance of death" can be slowed. The Palestinians have to shoulder their responsibilty and act in concert. Hamas has to stop its war on Israel and work with Fatah and this is a tall order. However if the Saudis and Syria and even Iran can be prevalied upon to use their influence, especially with Hamas, then slowly but surely this intractable situation can gradually be brought to heel. Keep your fingers crossed and hope.