# Currently, Prime Minister Maliki’s State of Law coalition is in the lead with roughly 75-82 seats. # Ayad al-Allawi’s Iraqiyyah list is in second with 66-74 seats. # The predominantly-Shi’a Iraqi National Alliance is in third with roughly 58-63 seats. # Kurdistani List is in fourth with roughly 33-36 votes.
On the surface, that the Obama administration decided one fine day to pick a fight with the government of Israel looks like an unmitigated disaster for the Jewish state. What could be worse than its most important ally provoking the worst crisis (according to the Israeli ambassador to Washington) since 1975? A closer look, however, suggests that this gratuitous little spat might turn out better for Jerusalem than for the White House.