- Title: MIDDLE EAST: Mixed feelings in the Middle East as Israel names goverment
- Date: 14th March 2013
- Summary: NEWSPAPER SHOWING PICTURES OF EXPECTED MINISTERS IN NEW GOVERNMENT VIEW OF NAFTALI BENNET PART OF NEW GOVERNMENT
- Embargoed: 29th March 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVADB75PM714D5EQCRITCP56GQ2O
- Story Text: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clinched deals for a coalition government on Thursday (March 14) reflecting a shift to the centre in Israel and a domestic agenda that has shunted peacemaking with Palestinians to the sidelines.
In control of 68 of parliament's 120 seats, the right-wing leader's new administration is expected to take office next week, just days before a visit by U.S. President Barack Obama, his first to Israel since entering the White House.
"There is a government," said Noga Katz, a spokeswoman for Netanyahu's Likud party, citing agreements with the centrist Yesh Atid and far-right Jewish Home parties as well as with a smaller faction led by former foreign minister Tzipi Livni.
Netanyahu's long-time partners, ultra-Orthodox parties effectively blackballed by Yesh Atid and Jewish Home over social benefits and military draft exemptions for religious Jews, will not be in the new coalition born of a Jan. 22 parliamentary election.
On the streets of Jerusalem, reaction to the coalition was mixed, some voiced concern that it wouldn't work, and others voicing hope that the government's mix of coalition partners from opposing sides of the political map would be able to work together.
"We wanted something else, and to my small opinion, my opinion, I don't give it a long term," said Jerusalem resident Rivkah.
"I think there is more agreement between Beit Hayahudi and and Yish Atid than we realise. I think they are different sides of the same coin. I think there will be a lot of good progress, am very hopeful for the government," said Abri Kava.
The exclusion of the religious parties represents a dramatic political change for an increasingly inward-looking Israel after the surprisingly strong ballot box showings by Yesh Atid, led by former TV news anchor Yair Lapid, and Jewish Home, headed by high-tech millionaire Naftali Bennett. Jerusalem's orthodox Jews said that it was a mistake, and would drive divisions through Israeli society.
"I think it is very painful for the ultra-Orthodox to be outside the government, for us to find ourselves in the midst of a national schism." said Shraga, an orthodox resident of Jerusalem, "Not long ago, two or three years ago, we were in a process of bringing together the ultra-Orthodox and the secular, and today there is the opposite process. And it pains me as part of the nation, and certainly an ultra-Orthodox man, because I feel there is a lot of fraternal hatred"
While Menachem Bloomingthal said it was very risky to leave the Haredi parties out of the government.
"For 2,000 years, Judaism has existed and endured through various upheavals, in various countries and various disappearances, it has survived. The State of Israel will not survive if it throws the ultra-Orthodox on the trash heap" he warned.
In Efrat, an Israeli settlement in the West Bank, views were mixed about the strength of the coalition.
"It's a good starting point, I would like to see all of the Zionist parties being part of the government," said resident Josh Adler.
"I think that it's a very weak coalition, I think that everybody is dissatisfied," added fellow resident Linda Goldstein.
While Palestinians in the West Bank town of Hebron said it didn't matter who was in the government, it was always bad for Palestinians and there would be no movement with the peace process.
"This government is the most racist government and will deny the Palestinians rights. All the governments before denied the Palestinians rights but this is a settlement government and is against the establishment of Palestinians state." Abdel Aleem Dana said.
"As Palestinian people I don't think there is a difference between the governments, they are our enemy that have same ideas and same position. There won't be any changes regarding the peace process." added Liana Bader.
Although Lapid, has advocated a resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians stalled since 2010, his party's second-place finish was a reflection of a renewed public focus on bread-and-butter issues such as the high cost of living.
Public expectations are high that the new government could effect real change in what many Israelis see as state coddling of the ultra-Orthodox, whose welfare benefits and exemption from the military provide little incentive or opportunity to learn skills and contribute to the economy.
Netanyahu will turn his attention again to the Palestinian issue and Iran's nuclear drive in his talks with Obama, with whom he has had a testy relationship. But U.S. officials have said Obama is not coming with any peace plan and expectations of any swift movement on the Israeli-Palestinian track are low.
"We hope that this Israeli government will choose peace and negotiations and not settlements and dictation," Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat said.
Lapid and Bennett each said they expected to sign coalition deals with Netanyahu later in the day. Livni made her pact with the prime minister several weeks ago.
The agreements on Thursday were sealed before a March 16 deadline for Netanyahu to announce a new government. Yesh Atid said Lapid would become finance minister. Israeli media reported Bennett would get the trade and industry cabinet post.
Lapid, 49, gained wide backing among young, secular voters who helped fuel massive street protests in 2011 against high food and housing prices.
He and Bennett, 40, took kingmakers' roles in the coalition bargaining by forming a negotiating alliance that frustrated Netanyahu's efforts to retain his largely loyal ultra-Orthodox partners for his third term in office.
Bennett, who Israeli media said would get the industry and trade portfolio, rejects any future Palestinian state and has strong support among Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
But he has pledged not to be an obstacle to peace talks, saying that in any case, he does not believe they will achieve anything. Neither Bennett nor Lapid have spoken out in detail on how they would deal with the Iranian issue.
Palestinians have demanded Israel suspend construction in settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, areas captured in the 1967 Middle East war and which they seek, along with the Gaza Strip, for a future state.
Netanyahu has called on the Palestinians to return to the talks without preconditions. Most countries regard Israel's settlements as illegal. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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