Posted on 05/08/2012 11:27:18 AM PDT by Evil Slayer
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has struck a deal with the opposition Kadima party, avoiding the early general election he had sought.
Kadima's recently-elected leader, Shaul Mofaz, is set to be named deputy PM.
Mr Netanyahu said their new coalition wanted a "responsible" peace process with the Palestinians and "serious" talks about Iran's nuclear programme.
The move came as parliament debated its dissolution before an election Mr Netanyahu had planned for September.
Kadima is currently the biggest party in the Knesset, but recent polls have suggested the number of seats it holds could be halved.
The coalition will have a majority of 94 - one of the biggest in Israeli history.
President Shimon Peres said the deal was "good for the people of Israel".
'Move of unity'
At a news conference with Mr Mofaz on Tuesday, Mr Netanyahu said he had "jumped at the chance" to create Israel's "broadest government".
The new coalition, which will govern until the end of the Knesset's current term in October 2013, would give Israel "stability", he argued.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
For Israel this is important. Major changes in Europe and of course the elections here in the US, it is important that Israel present a united front. With the largest parliamentary coalition in history behind Netanyahu they are standing behind their PM. It will be very hard for outsiders to try to play internal Israeli politics wrt the “peace process” and actually requires a move by the Palestinians. And I would be remiss to state that some of this has to do with Iran, Egyptian Elections, Syria revolution and the Arab Spring... in fact that may be more of it than anything.
For Israel this is important. Major changes in Europe and of course the elections here in the US, it is important that Israel present a united front. With the largest parliamentary coalition in history behind Netanyahu they are standing behind their PM. It will be very hard for outsiders to try to play internal Israeli politics wrt the “peace process” and actually requires a move by the Palestinians. And I would be remiss to state that some of this has to do with Iran, Egyptian Elections, Syria revolution and the Arab Spring... in fact that may be more of it than anything.
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