Coalition building continues with Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu offering Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who received a plurality of votes, significant cabinet positions such as defense alongside the foreign ministry. However, Livni still intends to attempt to form a coalition after receiving support from left-wing voters intent on preventing a Netanyahu victory. Meanwhile, Yisrael Beitenu chief Avigdor Lieberman decided whom he intends to support for the premiership, although he remains tight-lipped before meeting President Shimon Peres to announce his decision. Kingmaker Lieberman could receive a major cabinet position in the next government, including Treasury. However, Israeli police are currently investigating Lieberman for accusations of money laundering and fraud.
A Wall Street Journal editorial today praises Israel for its democratic electoral process and explains the right-ward shift in the elections by citing security concerns. A Financial Times editorial claims that the election results explain a fragmented society that has virtually “given up on peace” due to the current tension in the region. Conversely, in an interview with Democracy Now!, Israeli Prof. Neve Gordon and Palestinian democracy activist and 2005 PA Chairman Runner-up Mustafa Barghouti fiercely criticize the right-leaning trend. However, their critiques and assertions, primarily targeting the votes received by Yisrael Beitenu as supporting fascism and racism, desregard the number of votes received by Arab parties and those advocating Arab rights. Further, a majority of the seats in the next Knesset, including Yisrael Beitenu, support the creation of a Palestinian state, hardly characteristic of a fascist regime aimed at oppressing certain populations. Regardless, the entire process of free and open elections is no small feat for the Middle East and should be praised for the process.
A few months ago, I wrote about the early stages of the conflict in Ukraine through the lens of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. While it appears likely that the war will carry on into the foreseeable future, enough time has passed for us to make an honest assessment of each side’s relative […]
The Ukrainian Army has made dramatic strides in the last few weeks. Ukraine’s tactical commanders have outfoxed their Russian counterparts, and by issuing a feint towards the south the UA has been able to earn substantial gains in the north of their country. The impact of these efforts have been compounded by the steady stream […]
In mid-May the Irish political party, Sinn Féin, won the plurality of seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Many American readers might not fully understand the significance of Sinn Féin’s political victory- but rest assured that subjects of the United Kingdom and a wide range of political movements the world over have heard the message […]
The first wave of the Russian offensive in Ukraine has fallen short of Russian autocrat Vladmir Putin’s ambitions. Most analysts deduced that Putin had hoped to achieve a decapitation strike of the Ukrainian government- taking Kiev and replacing Ukrainian President Vladimir Zolinski with a pro-Kremlin voice. Kiev has been threatened repeatedly through the course of […]
On the weekend of March 26th, the notorious MS-13 gang went on a massive killing spree in El Salvador which left more than 70 people dead by Sunday. Even for a country where powerful gangs hold massive sway, this recent tragedy stands out considering that it was the bloodiest day on record since the civil […]
