Netanyahu Loses, Right Wins

The incumbent Kadima Party did surprisingly well in yesterday’s Israeli elections, apparently winning more votes than favorite Binyamin Netanyahu’s Likud. But, as I argue in my New Atlanticist piece, “Israeli Election: Netanyahu Loses, Right Wins,” that doesn’t mean that the forces of sanity won out.

Ironically, given that Lieberman holds the whip hand here, the most likely result is a government that is much more right-leaning than if Netanyahu had won outright. That’s perfectly understandable from the standpoint of an Israeli public frustrated after years of failed attempts to make peace with the Palestinian Authority. Unfortunately, it also virtually precludes that outcome, strengthening the hand of the Arab extremists.

Much more at the link.

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. PD Shaw says:

    I predict that Netanyahu puts together the next government.

  2. Bithead says:

    “Israeli Election: Netanyahu Loses, Right Wins,” that doesn’t mean that the forces of sanity won out.

    Boy, for a minute there, I got the impression you were suggesting Netanyahu was the less sane choice.

  3. Brett says:

    I really feel sorry for Labor. The original governing party of Israel and many of its founders, which led the country for 20 years from its founding . . . only to end up in 4th Place behind the right-wing upstart party of a former bouncer.