Does Netanyahu have a chance?
I’m not a Livni fan, but most of this article is politically inspired manure. The root problem with Kadimah is that it is a party that Sharon pulled out of a hat like a rabbit, then he went ill, Olmert took the reins and almost immediately got plunged into a war, which he botched totally, and meanwhile unlike the older major parties, it has no structure to speak of or traditions. Under the circumstances they are by force having to settle the leadership succession in a no holds barred, no rules, barroom brawl. Livni is a very smart cookie, but no one really knows where she stands on key issues, but the reality of Israeli politics is that she can’t stray from the consensus, particularly with a phantom party like Kadimah, she has to tread gingerly. The key issue as always is Jerusalem. There is no majority in or out of the Knesset to concede anything on that issue. Nothing is going to happen although in the next election the parties will have to state where they stand. Livni if she plays her cards right can give Netanyahu a run for his money in the next election. Barak is non-starter.
As for Iran, Israel will act on the basis of its intelligence reports, never mind Peres who’s not in the loop, and everyone will pull together. Nothing is going to happen before Nov. 4 barring the unforeseen.