World

Not Netanyahu again

Netanyahu’s election is likely to further destabilise a region perennially teetering on the brink

Editorial March 18, 2015

israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu c delivers a speech next to his wife sara as he reacts to exit poll figures in israel 039 s parliamentary elections late on march 17 2015 in the city of tel aviv photo afp

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) delivers a speech next to his wife Sara as he reacts to exit poll figures in Israel's parliamentary elections late on March 17, 2015 in the city of Tel Aviv. PHOTO: AFP

Whilst the right-wing of Israeli politics will be celebrating Benjamin Netanyahu’s win, there will be little festivity elsewhere both inside and outside Israel. Netanyahu’s Likud party made a late surge in the polls and drew away from its principal rival, the centre-left Zionist Union, and now has the most seats in the Israeli parliament. The contest had looked as if it was neck and neck in exit polls conducted after voting had finished on the evening of March 17, but by the next morning the Likud party had a decisive five-seat lead, virtually guaranteeing Netanyahu a fourth term as prime minister. The fragmented nature of politics in Israel means that all governments are coalitions, and the new government will be no exception with Netanyahu already said to be speaking to other right-wing leaders to form a “strong and stable” government.

Netanyahu is likely to be successful in his coalition-building, and no matter that the Israeli people have exercised their democratic right, the result is bad news for the peace process in the Middle East and the Palestinian people. He had tendentiously declared that there would be no Palestinian state if his party came to power, the first time such a position has been stated so explicitly. There will be no joy in Washington at that and those engaged in crafting peace will be profoundly disappointed. Moreover, relations between Israel and Iran are unlikely to improve with both at different times having spoken of their desire to eradicate the other and another round of sabre-rattling may be envisaged. Jewish settlers will continue to build settlements on Palestinian lands and the seeds of conflict have been watered once again. Israeli society is as deeply polarised as its politicians and none of the fault lines that were evident at the inception of the state have closed, or scars healed. Netanyahu’s election is likely to further destabilise a region perennially teetering on the brink.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2015.

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