(VOVworld) – The preliminary result of the Israeli parliamentary election on January 22 shows the right-wing coalition between Likud Party of incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yisrael Beitenu of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman won narrowly over other Parties. It means Netanyahu will serve a third term as Prime Minister. But, a number of Israelis don’t seem to be happy to the result.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
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A public poll conducted at voting constituencies showed that the Likud – Beitenu allies won 31 of 120 seats in the Parliament. Accordingly, Netanyahu’s coalition has the most votes but still has to expand the coalition to collect the majority votes of 61 congressmen to form a government. It means support for the Likud Party has fallen and a government with less seats in the parliament will affect Netanyahu’s policy implementation. Voters said the cause is that Israel has been isolated with the world under Netanyahu’s administration. The British Financial Times shares this view saying Netanyahu’s reelection would deepen Israel’s international isolation. Over the past 4 years, Prime Minister Netanyahu has been perceived as taking provocative actions with neighboring countries. He mentioned Iran’s nuclear program at a UN conference last year and called on the international community to act if Tehran crossed the red line. Relations with Turkey, its biggest ally in the region, became tense when Israel attacked a ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza in 2010. Meanwhile, Israel’s relations with the US have become strained after an information leak were said to contain warnings from US President Barack Obama that the expansion of settlement areas has pushed the Jewish state to the verge of complete isolation.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s hard-line but old policy in the dispute with Palestine is wearing Israeli out. The public said as long as the Gaza issue has not been resolved the image of a reliable Prime Minister has not been completed. At the UN General Assembly voting for Palestinian non-member statehood last year, only the Czech Republic voted against, France, Spain, and Italy voted for, and other European countries cast blank votes, demonstrating that Israel has lost the EU support in Palestinian issue and has to face strong political pressure from the west.
Domestically, analysts said the new government will have to resolve severe economic issues such as approving an austerity measure to control budget inflation while appeasing the public in face of escalating consumption cost and income imbalance.
Netanyahu, seemed neglectful of the public’s concerns, echoing in his first speech after his victory in Tel Aviv his intention to form as broad a government as possible to deal with challenges such as the global economic crisis, Iran’s nuclear threat, and the dispute with Palestine. He cited a number of principles his new government will embrace: security, preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, economic responsibility in the face of the global financial crisis, diplomatic responsibility in seeking a true peace with Palestine, and lowering the cost of living, including the cost of apartments.
Observers predict Prime Minister Netanyahu’s policies will make his coming 4-year term more difficult.