Good Morning ,

Everything you say is correct , it is bad for Israel and its image (whatever that maybe)

Firstly since the Election there is has been a Week Holiday for Passover , which in Blighty is more or less one night and a day but over here it is a full week and for the Sephardic Jews it is an additional day so they have 8 days , the Horse trading is now actually only starting.

Netanayu has the clear lead on paper but to stay in power with a majority he needs 4/5 seats from the Arab list and some of his partners on the extreme right wont work with the Arabs

Lapid is a clear second but is willing to take in elements of the Netanayu supporters and give them high profile positions this includes Bennet who he has offered the PM job to on a rotational basis (Netanyu will not cede this to anybody)

I am guessing that MAYBE Lapid may just get the numbers because he is willing to concede and make compromises , I hope he wins

BM

bml00 said:

I hope he wins

I hope he does too. 

Netanyahu should face the charges against him and the courts should decide on his guilt or innocence before he's allowed to play  a major role in government. 

In any normal society the PM would be required to step down , as to the guilt of the PM the law works slowly when opposed by the massive finance and support Netanayu has available , I am sure beyond doubt (as he is sure beyond doubt) that he is going to one day spend time in a cell

BM

"In any normal society the PM would be required to step down"

If they can avoid the courts then they'll cling on to power. The French also make the President immune to prosecution while in power. They've only just tried and jailed Sarkozy.

When Olmert was accused of his crimes (and eventually found guilty) Netanayu advised him that the most honorable thing to do was step down .

BM

You don't expect a politician to apply his advice to others to himself. I remember Olmert. 

Has he retired from active politics?

Olmert like Netanayu was/is a very wealthy man , he has writen a book or three , does after dinner speeches and writes for various newspapers .

He was he PM back in the day of the war with Hezbollah , he was clueless what to do , his defense minister had less idea and the Chief of Staff less again , I predicted then the night of the long knives would occur and all have disappeared from view only Olmert went to nick .

Our then Defense Minister was famously photographed looking down the wrong end of a pair of Binoculars .

I shudder at the utter stupidity of those men

BM

Yet they were in positions of power. Something wrong with the system?

yes but it is unlikely to change any time soon , the Chief of Staff has to be Infantry / Tanks not airforce and the DM has to have army experience also the PM has to know what to do .

The war was run by Washington / Rice , it left those in the field seething with rage as opportunities were being missed and there was no end game being given no goals .

BM

I hear you.  Is the US still that influential?