Labor to Join Likud in 42nd Israeli Gov't

      Ehud Barak has decided to provide Bibi Netanyahu with a fig leaf of legitimacy. The projected new government with Netanyahu as Prime Minister and Barak as Defence minister and supported by the fascist Lieberman is now possible. Kadima has so far resisted the temptation, and Livni has at least maintained a modicum of decency.

      Netanyahu had opposed the Oslo Agreement negotiated by Yitzak Rabin in the mid-nineties and even celebrated the assissination of Rabin by a religious fanatic, that saw the end of that attempt at peace with the Palestinians. Netanyahu is opposed to the two-state policy and he favors the continued building of settlements on Palestinian land on the West Bank.Without Barak and the Labor party, Netanyahu would have difficulty dealing with the Obama administration, which supports the two-state policy and a freeze on new settlement buildings. Barak seems to think that he can control Netanyahu and Lieberman and in this he is sadly mistaken. The support to Likud and Lieberman come from those on the religious right and the settlers. Not only are they against the two-atate policy and any restrictions on continued building of settlements, they want  expansion of present settlements, and in the case of Lieberman and some on the religious right, they want to issue special identity cards and even deport Palestinian-Israelis from their  ancestral homes.  Recently ( March 23) Jewish ultra-nationalist had a provocative march in Northern Israel where the Palesinian-Israelis who make up 1/5 of the population of Israel live. The Israeli police as they are wont to do in such circumstances gave protection to these provacateurs and instead attacked the Palestinians who came out to protest this provocation.

      What has been concocted is a broad, illogical coalition. It won't work. The Labor party is already split, with only 57% supporting Barak's move. Netanyahu, Lieberman, Barak, the relgious right, the ultra-nationalsits and the settlers make for a very acerbic, divisive and chaotic 42nd government. It will be fun watching these prima donnas at work/play. Get ready for another hiccup in the governance of Israeli.