Trouble looms for Israel coalition

[bemildred]

Israel's new government has found itself in increasing turmoil even before it has been sworn in, with coalition partner Yisrael Beiteinu already threatening to pull out.

The Yisrael Beiteinu website posted a statement on Tuesday warning that Avigdor Lieberman, the party's leader, would pull out if he is not given the foreign ministry as promised.

Recent rumours have suggested Netanyahu's Likud party could reclaim the foreign ministry, having promised it to Lieberman, and award it to Silvan Shalom, a Likud official.

Yisrael Beiteinu is a key part of Netanyahu's new government, with 15 seats in the Knesset, or Israeli parliament.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/03/200933111115472242.html

[aranthus]

1. Expected, yes?

So let's assume that this coalition doesn't make it, and that there will be another election. How do people think it will go? Left? Right? Center? More of the same?

[bemildred]

2. Likud in turmoil after Netanyahu-Shalom meeting canceled

The chasm between Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu and Likud MK and chief party rival Silvan Shalom is growing ever wider Tuesday after a meeting scheduled to resolve the row over the latter's role in the next government was postponed indefinitely.

Hours before Netanyahu's government is to be sworn in at the Knesset in Jerusalem, it is unclear if and when the two will meet to patch up their differences.

Likud officials are attempting to mediate the dispute, which is likely to divide the faction and could potentially hamper Netanyahu's ability to govern if left unresolved. Meanwhile, Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman is threatening to pull his influential party out of the new coalition if the foreign ministry is returned to Likud in the event Lieberman is forced to resign.

The Yisrael Beiteinu website on Tuesday posted a statement warning Netanyahu that "if the foreign ministry portfolio returns to Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu will return to the opposition."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1075193.html