Divorce Scuttles Shotgun Likud/Kadima Wedding
by Stephen Lendman
Shotgun weddings often produce quick and/or ugly divorces. This one was no exception. When announced, public outrage greeted it.
So-called unity sounded more like surrender. Secret talks arranged it. Israel's faux democracy sustained another blow. What Likud's Benjamin Netanyahu and Kadima's Shaul Mofaz agreed to came asunder. More on why below.
On May 9, Knesset members voted 71 - 23 for a new unity government. Mofaz became deputy prime minister. Netanyahu stayed head of government.
Mofaz served previously as IDF Chief of General Staff. He also held various ministerial posts.
As former IDF head and defense minister, he's indictable for crimes of war and against humanity. He murdered thousands of Palestinians. He participated in two wars against Lebanon.
Netanyahu has his own cross to bear. He's a world class thug. Like Mofaz, he's guilty of high crimes against peace. He's an embarrassment to democratic government. He's surrounded by equally hardline types. He and Mofaz made an inglorious pact.
Labor MK Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said:
"I have seen everything, but nothing like this." No wonder increasing numbers of Israelis call its political system "trash."Likely September elections were cancelled. Kadima agreed to support Likud's policies through late 2013. Only 12 of its 28 MKs showed up to vote. Accord to MK Robert Tibayev:
"We are entering the coalition with no discussion, with four clauses in the agreement," he said." I don't think there has ever been a coalition deal with four clauses and nothing of essence."
Meretz party MK Zehava Gal-On said "the prime minister was spooked by the settlers in the Likud Central Committee, and Mofaz panicked because of the polls that showed that his party is vaporizing."
Her colleague Nitzan Horowitz asked "(w)hat are Israeli citizens supposed to understand from" what's going on?
Many Israelis deplored it. Public rallies opposed it. In Tel Aviv, protesters demonstrated under the slogan "All the People are Opposition." Social activist MKs attended.
