Straight Down The Middle 2

Proportional representation is a blessing and a curse. In Israel, particularly following last week’s elections, it’s a little more of the latter. Ehud Olmert, the new Prime Minister, only won 28 seats in the Knesset and now seeks partnerships to maintain a coalition government. His toughest job is appeasing the right while being responsible to the people. But perhaps this is what voters wanted: a compromise.

For the first time in years, a new party was elected that wasn’t Labor or Likud, indicating to me that the people want a government down the middle, neither left nor right. It looks like Sharon was correct: progressive steps to end the fighting with Palestine, while building a Jewish state in its purist form was the solution. And like a famous Captain of a ship called Enterprise, Sharon isn’t around to make it so. Nevertheless the people have spoken and Olmert has his work cut out for him [literally and figuratively].

Benjamin Netanyahu looks like yesterday’s man. He tried to frighten voters into electing Likud based on a fear of HAMAS. But HAMAS has shown it’s hand and was not necessarily considered the evil empire Netanyahu made them out to be. Besides Olmert is being supported by the extremist Yisrael Beiteinu party regarding his policy for the West Bank.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who says nothing changes regarding HAMAS’s policy toward Israel, is in for a big surprise. Olmert may still act unilaterally to build a metaphorical wall between Israelis and Palestinians on the West Bank.

Israeli voters elected a more centrist party to lead them. Maybe they’re willing to negotiate with the Palestinians and that would be a blessing.

That’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.