(israelpolicyforum).Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has angered some of his right-wing coalition parties by his work towards a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This loss of support from the right, combined with US pressure, may cause Netanyahu to broaden his coalition to include Kadima, as well as open more discussion on the settlement issue.
James Besser in The Jewish Week questioned different Middle East experts and scholars to discuss the changes that may occur in government due to Netanyahu's political shift towards the left:
With his back to the wall in his dealings with Washington, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly weighing the possibility of broadening his government to give him more flexibility in anticipation of meeting American demands.
The reports are based in part on right-wing elements in Netanyahu's coalition government that are upset with the prime minister's decision to work towards a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, according to Yossi Alpher, an Israeli analyst and co-editor of the Israeli-Palestinian Web site bitterlemons.org.
Possible Coalition with Kadima:
"...There are members of the opposition centrist Kadima Party led by Shaul Mofaz, the former defense minister, who are "lobbying Kadima to join the government now that Netanyahu has accepted a two-state solution." [Yossi Alpher]
But Alpher said that because Tzipi Livni, former foreign minister and Kadima Party chair, is not anxious to join the coalition, Mofaz "might take some members with him and move to Likud." Alpher noted that a proposed law in Israel would make it easier for him to do that.
He hastened to add that he does not foresee anyone "leaving the coalition to make room for Kadima, and I don't believe Kadima would reopen discussions about joining the coalition."
Judith Kipper, director of Middle East Programs for the Institute of World Affairs, said a Likud-Kadima coalition "may be what Netanyahu would like to do, but I think Kadima would have a very hard time [joining] such a coalition as long as Lieberman remains part of it."This leak, combined with reports that Netanyahu is considering broadening his right-leaning government, suggests that "Netanyahu is leaving the door open for a shakeup," according to .
He [Gerald Steinberg, a political science professor at Bar-Ilan University] said Netanyahu might opt to broaden his government whether or not the U.S. and Israel reach an agreement on Israeli-Palestinian peace issues. Steinberg said Israel might have to "move to the left" to reach an accord with the U.S., or form a national unity government to withstand American pressure if the two sides failed to agree.
