Israel's Election: Obama and Netanyahu on Palestine and Iran

The Israeli election is fast approaching and the centre-left Labour party led by Shelly Yachimovich is walking around the economy to garner strength during the election. Binyamin Netanyahu is favoured to win the election convincingly. Obama's mild face-off with Netanyahu is also boosting the morale of Netanyahu's campaign.

The whole affairs on security is a central campaign fact for the Likud Party; Iran's nuclear programme, Hamas defiant acts and the election of an Islamist regime in Egypt. All these are set to assist Netanyahu's Likud Party. Since no one party has ever won a real majority in Parliament, Netanyahu's choice becomes hard in coalition formation.

The Likud Party on January 22 will come out better and as the winner but the choice of Netanyahu remains tough in the race to gaining a convincing coalition to control the majority in Parliament. The extreme proportional representation forces Netanyahu to align with Yisrael Beitenu, a party who is more hawkish to the Palestinians than Netanyahu himself. 

Another party to watch out for in the new coalition is Habayit Hayehudi (The Jewish Home) led by the business and software mogul, Naftali Bennett. The coalition around Netanyahu brings the Palestinian question back into the campaign proper. Bennett is an hardline Jew who is really opposed to any home for the Palestinians.

While the criticism of Obama that Netanyahu's Israel is the main stumbling block to any peace with Palestine is being discussed within the party, it nonetheless has ironically bolstered Netanyahu's image and chances as the man who is for a real Jewish homeland since he supports settlements wholeheartedly.

Both Shelly Yachimovich, Netanyahu's closest rival and Binyamin had hoped to concentrate on domestic issues with the economy being the focus of the Labour Party and security being the point of campaign for the Likud Party but the 'Palestine Ghost' is once again proving to be one that has stubbornly refused death. After Palestine comes Iran and her nuclear programme.

Since Chuck Hagel, Obama's preferred Secretary of Defense is seen within Israel not as a war hawk, it makes a whole lot of sense to re-elect Netanyahu and the coalition who can meander and make the Islamic regime realise that Israel will always be ready to strike. Obama himself is indirectly sent a message that settlement and a 'single' homeland for all is the only solution not a two-state solution.