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Obama ready to press Israeli parties to form unity government
The Telegraph ^ | 2/14/2009 | Tim Shipman in Washington and Dina Kraft in Tel Aviv

Posted on 02/14/2009 5:37:43 PM PST by bruinbirdman

President Barack Obama is preparing to wade into the messy aftermath of the Israeli elections by pressing the rival Likud and Kadima parties to form a government of national unity.

The president is understood to regard such an alliance as the only way to provide a credible partner in peace talks with the Palestinians - and has let it be known that he is ready to lean on either party to make a deal happen.

The indication of his thinking comes as Israeli politicians struggle to create a governing coalition after last week's confused election result. Although the ruling centrist Kadima Party won more seats than its more conservative rival, Likud, the combined parties of the Right won more seats in total than those of the centre and the Left.

Shimon Peres, the Israeli president, is edging towards inviting the Likud leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, to form a government, and some Kadima members have sworn they would reject any accord that would put their leader, foreign minister Tzipi Livni, under Mr Netanyahu in a new Israeli cabinet.

In these circumstances, an American intervention could be vital. Sources in Washington who have discussed the situation with members of Mr Obama's team now believe that the new president is prepared to play a role behind the scenes to ensure that an alliance can emerge.

"His team is prepared to take the plunge privately if it is never made public," said a well-placed source in Washington.

The Obama administration insists publicly that it will work with whatever coalition government Israeli politicians come up with. The president's advisers are reluctant to be seen meddling in the messy business of constructing Israeli governments.

But they also believe Mr Obama could wield his political capital to ease the birth of a centrist government

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: empereor0; israel; obama
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To: bruinbirdman
The president's advisers are reluctant to be seen meddling in the messy business of constructing Israeli governments.

A very appropriate and telling phrasing, there. They have no problem actually meddling, they just don't want to be seen doing it.
21 posted on 02/14/2009 6:18:08 PM PST by Renderofveils (My loathings are simple: stupidity, oppression, crime, cruelty, soft music. - Nabokov)
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To: bruinbirdman
Is he going to give the same advice he gave to cousin Odinga in Kenya? Commit terrorist acts and murder Christians Jews until they give in and form a "unity" government.
22 posted on 02/14/2009 6:19:55 PM PST by Just A Nobody (I *LOVE* my Attitude Problem - NEVER AGAIN...Support our Troops! Beware the ENEMEDIA)
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To: bruinbirdman

That’s pretty cheeky.


23 posted on 02/14/2009 6:20:18 PM PST by poindexter
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To: Nervous Tick
It's an interesting mural.

Anyone out there read Hebrew?

yitbos

24 posted on 02/14/2009 6:25:08 PM PST by bruinbirdman ("Those who control language control minds.")
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To: cripplecreek

And Pharaohs


25 posted on 02/14/2009 6:27:02 PM PST by autumnraine (Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose- Kris Kristopherson)
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To: stboz

Agreed. This is Israel’s internal matter. If Benjamin gives you the finger, then “get over it. He won.”


26 posted on 02/14/2009 6:31:02 PM PST by GAB-1955 (Kicking and Screaming into the Kingdom of Heaven!)
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To: autumnraine

Odd you should say that, I think Obama looks Egyptian.


27 posted on 02/14/2009 6:32:00 PM PST by madison10
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To: Nervous Tick
Roger that.

However, this report is remarkable in it's illustration of the breathtaking hypocrisy of Obama in particular and the left, in general.

For 7 1/2 years they pilloried Pres. Bush. "How dare he remove Saddam Hussein from power? What right do we have to meddle in the internal politics of a sovereign country? We must respect the wishes of the Palestinian people that elected Hamas."

And first chance he gets? Pressure the Israelis to form a unity government!

There is a word that describes the Left, chutzpah.

28 posted on 02/14/2009 6:44:50 PM PST by sofaman (Moses dragged us through the desert for 40 years to the one place in the ME with no oil - Golda Meir)
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To: madison10

Yes, he really does look Egyptian.


29 posted on 02/14/2009 6:51:28 PM PST by autumnraine (Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose- Kris Kristopherson)
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To: sofaman

One of the problems with left-wing chutzpah: the examples of it come at you so fast and furious, it’s tough to keep up with them all. After a while, only the most egregious of them penetrate the general state of “chutzpah numbness” I’m in.

This one is penetrating.


30 posted on 02/14/2009 6:56:35 PM PST by Nervous Tick (Party? I don't have one anymore.)
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To: Boiling Pots

The Isrealis should tell Obie to go pound sand.


31 posted on 02/14/2009 7:00:28 PM PST by wny
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To: wny

Israel is a sovereign state, not an appendage of the US. Hussein should just go pound salt; since when does he have Israel’s interests in mind?


32 posted on 02/14/2009 7:41:46 PM PST by sobieski
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To: bruinbirdman

It is a sovereign country and none of ZERO’s business. What an arrogant, skinny twerp who is either naive, stupid, or believes he really is the Messiah. Haven’t figured out which yet and may be all three.


33 posted on 02/14/2009 7:54:47 PM PST by PhiKapMom ( BOOMER SOONER! Sam Bradford Heisman! LetsGetThisRight.com RED STATE Oklahoma Republican)
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To: PhiKapMom
"It is a sovereign country and none of ZERO’s business."

Hmmmmmmmmm. Iran has an election coming up. Which guy does Hussein want elected?

yitbos

34 posted on 02/14/2009 8:11:17 PM PST by bruinbirdman ("Those who control language control minds.")
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To: bruinbirdman
He knows BiBi is the only one who can form a majority coalition and Obama wants to stop that if there's any way he can. Thus, the demand for a "unity" govt, which would allow Kadima to water down Likud.

The idea of Jews with nukes...and the willingness to use them...FREAKS OUT Obama and crew.

Israel better strike Iran before Obama replaces most US Generals/Admirals with his own henchmen...and women...and others.

Certainly, in only 1 year it will be too late.

35 posted on 02/14/2009 8:22:39 PM PST by Mariner
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To: bruinbirdman

Good question! Whoever is the farthest left would be my guess.


36 posted on 02/14/2009 9:30:40 PM PST by PhiKapMom ( BOOMER SOONER! Sam Bradford Heisman! LetsGetThisRight.com RED STATE Oklahoma Republican)
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To: Nervous Tick

Its not Lieberman. Its Ehud Barak. The caption says “At the moment of truth...Barak.”


37 posted on 02/14/2009 9:34:53 PM PST by Astronaut
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To: sofaman

Oops! Shimon not Sharon- but you get my point.


38 posted on 02/15/2009 6:48:00 AM PST by flib (Russell and other Vets TRIED to visit Murtha)
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To: Nervous Tick

Many thousands of non-Jews accepted as immigrants in recent years from places like Russia and Ethiopia demand recognition of inter- and gay- marriage, the easy availability of pork and other of their favorite non-kosher foods, and meaningless conversions to Judaism so they don’t have to feel like “outsiders.”

Yisrael Beiteinu has taken up their cause, and these are the issues which they demand Bibi accept for their inclusion in the ruling coalition.

In addition, Yisrael Beiteinu favors the territorial surrender favored by Netanyahu, Livni and Barak.


39 posted on 02/15/2009 8:37:33 AM PST by jjotto ("Ya could look it up!")
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To: bruinbirdman

Any Jew who believes Obama will act in Israel’s best interest is an idiot. Racist blacks like Obama hate whites, but reserve a special hatred for Jews.


40 posted on 02/15/2009 8:40:47 AM PST by lady lawyer
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