Netanyahu’s coalition no real comfort

Jerusalem

Benjamin Netanyahu is unlikely to find much comfort at home or abroad in his fourth term as prime minister after taking six weeks to form a coalition that will hold a parliamentary majority of just a single seat.

Long at odds with Western allies over his views on Palestine and Iran, Netanyahu could be similarly vexed by domestic legislation that even his right-leaning, five-party alliance will not necessarily agree on, analysts say.

After striking the coalition deal with less than two hours to spare before a midnight deadline on Wednesday, the conservative leader made no secret of wishing he had more than the 61 seats he will control in the 120-seat parliament. “Sixty-one plus is an even better number,” he said in televised remarks.

Netanyahu’s aides left the door open to a “national unity” government bringing in centre-left opposition leader Isaac Herzog – possibly by offering him the foreign minister’s post, a portfolio being kept in reserve.

“It’s hard to say exactly how long this (coalition) will last, but it’s not viable,” said Amotz Asa-El, a fellow with the Shalom Hartman Institute, a liberal Israeli thinktank. “It will be short-lived, laden with difficulty and will end in a unity deal with Herzog.”

But Herzog was scornful of the unity idea yesterday, telling Israel’s Army Radio: “This is a government devoid of responsibility, stability and any chance of governing.”

“I have no intention of serving as a fi fth wheel, uncorker or hole-plugger for Bibi Netanyahu,” he said. “I intend to replace Netanyahu, and I intend to lead a fighting opposition.” – Reuters