Lieberman's election campaign has begun

[azurnoir]

The recent speech at the United Nations by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman was the opening salvo in the election campaign for the 19th Knesset. Lieberman, who is chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, embarked on a bid for the leadership of the political right wing and positioned himself as the guardian of those "speaking the truth," who will not be pressured and will not capitulate like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

<snip>

The American demand for a settlement construction freeze was designed from the start to threaten the unity of Israel's governing coalition and the stability of Netanyahu's hold on the prime minister post. It was also designed to engender constant tension between Netanyahu and the right flank of his Likud party, as well as his "natural partners" from other parties on the right.

<snip>

"The world," including Obama, hates the settlements and wants the construction freeze. Unlike the freeze that ended on September 26, however, which did not rock the coalition boat, this time Netanyahu has encountered opposition. Lieberman is warning against an American plot to impose a peace agreement and says he will remain in the government and fight to foil it.

The response to Lieberman's insurrection should have been to remove him from the Foreign Ministry and replace him with Kadima Party leader Tzipi Livni. Without a doubt, bringing Kadima into the government instead of Yisrael Beiteinu, Shas and Habayit Hayehudi would send a message to the world that Netanyahu was serious and intended to reach a compromise with the Palestinians.

Such a step, however, is fraught with major risks. Livni could join forces with adversaries of Netanyahu and bring him down rather than saving him. That's what the leader of the Labor Party, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, did to Netanyahu during his prior term as prime minister.

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/lieberman-s-election-campaign-has-begun-1.317414

[oberliner]

1. Connecticut voters are smarter than that

Oh, wait, McMahon is ahead in the polls?

Just kidding!