Early Elections Called In Israel

PM at Tuesday's press conference (Photo: Gil Yohanan)

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu calls early elections -- Jerusalem Post

Netanyahu says elections must be held "as soon as possible," a minimum of 3 months after dissolution of Knesset, asserts that the current Knesset will not be able to pass responsible budget.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu announced early elections on Tuesday evening, saying they must be held "as soon as possible."

In a televised press conference, Netanyahu said that following meetings with coalition partners earlier in the day, he had come to the conclusion that the current Knesset would not be possible to pass a responsible budget, and therefore it was in the nation's best interest to hold early elections.

Read more ....

More News On Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Calling Early Elections

Netanyahu announces early elections -- Haaretz
PM: Elections to be held early -- YNet News
Netanyahu calls early election for Israel -- CNN
Netanyahu announces early Israeli election -- Reuters
Israel election: Prime Minister Netanyahu calls early poll -- BBC
Binyamin Netanyahu calls early general election in Israel -- The Guardian
Israel PM calls early election -- AFP
Israel's Netanyahu calls for early elections amid budget crunch -- L.A. Times
Israeli leader calls for early elections -- Houston Chronicle/AP
Netanyahu Calls for Early Israeli Elections Amid Budget Impasse -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Factbox: Political parties in Israel as early election called -- Reuters

Why Is Israel's Defense Officials Meeting With Israel's Top Rabbi?

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef. Photo by Michal Fattal

Israeli Defense Officials Consult With Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Over Iran Strike -- Haaretz

Some want the spiritual leader of ultra-Orthodox party Shas to support a strike, others to oppose it. At least one visit, in which the rabbi was briefed on Iran's nuclear program, came at Netanyahu's behest.

Senior defense officials have recently been visiting the ultra-Orthodox Shas party's spiritual leader, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, to discuss a possible Israeli attack on Iran.

Some want the 91-year-old rabbi to support it, others to oppose it. At least one visit, in which the rabbi was briefed on Iran's nuclear program, came at the behest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is battling for support in the cabinet to strike Iran.

Read more ....

Update #1: Report: Netanyahu Pressuring Rabbi Yosef to Support Iran Strike -- Arutz Sheva
Update #2: Rabbi Ovadia Yosef briefed on Iran -- YNet

My Comment: This is disturbing. Mixing religion with decisions that need to be made on national security is never a good option.

Israel's Coalition Government Collapses

Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Shaul Mofaz back in May Photo: REUTERS

Israel's Largest Party Walks Out Of Benjamin Netanyahu's Coalition -- The Telegraph

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, was forced to consider calling an early general election on Tuesday night after the largest party in the country's parliament walked out of his ruling coalition.

Just two months after joining a unity government, Shaul Mofaz led his Kadima party into opposition after failing to secure legislation extending conscription to Israel's ultra-Orthodox Jews.

Mr Mofaz also resigned as deputy prime minister as negotiations over a new law on army service collapsed.

"Kadima has decided to resign from the national unity government," Mr Mofaz said.

Read more ....

More News On The Collapse Of Israel's Coalition Government

Israeli coalition unravels as centrist Kadima party quits over draft dispute -- Washington Post
Israeli Premier Netanyahu's coalition crumbles with Kadima exit -- L.A. Times
Unity Government in Israel Disbanding Over Dispute on Draft -- New York Times
Israel's Kadima party quits Netanyahu government -- Reuters
Israeli government loses main coalition partner -- CNN
Netanyahu Coalition Loses Major Ally in Dispute Over Draft Law -- Bloomberg
Kadima quits Israel government over conscription law -- BBC
Israeli Coalition comes crashing down -- Globe and Mail

Former Israeli Premier Olmert Cleared Of Most Corruption Charges

Israel ex-PM Olmert Guilty Of Breach Of Trust -- Al Jazeera

Former leader declares victory after court finds him guilty on one corruption charge, but acquits him of two others.

An Israeli court has acquitted former prime minister Ehud Olmert on two key corruption charges while finding him guilty on a lesser charge, in a verdict he hailed as just.

The Jerusalem District Court on Tuesday cleared Olmert on charges of receiving cash-stuffed envelopes and falsely billing trips abroad multiple times, but convicted him on the charge of granting favours to a former colleague during his time as a minister.

Read more ....

More News On The Legal Problems Of Former Israeli Premier Olmert

Former Israeli Premier Is Cleared of Most Corruption Charges -- New York Times
Former Israeli premier Ehud Olmert cleared of charges that drove him from office -- Washington Post
Former Israeli prime minister Olmert cleared of key corruption charges -- Christian Science Monitor
Israel's Olmert acquitted on major corruption charges -- Reuters
Ex-Israeli Prime Minister Olmert cleared in corruption case -- FOX News/AP
Ehud Olmert hints at political comeback -- The Telegraph
Buoyed by Acquittals, Can Former Israeli P.M. Olmert Resurrect His Political Career? -- Karl Vick, Time

Israel's Spies Are In Open Revolt Against Their Government

Israel's Spy Revolt -- Foreign Policy

The war of words over an Israeli attack on Iran is splitting the political leadership from military and intelligence chiefs. And that dangerous divide in Jerusalem might well lead to real war.

Something has gone very wrong with Israel's posture on Iran's nuclear program. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak lead a confrontational approach -- including dramatic interviews and speeches to U.S. audiences that have convinced many that Israel might soon strike Iran's nuclear facilities -- the former heads of Israel's intelligence agencies have come out publicly against the government's position. First, Meir Dagan -- who headed the Mossad until late 2010 and coordinated Israel's Iran policy -- called an attack on Iran "the most foolish thing I've heard." In April, Yuval Diskin -- the previous head of the domestic intelligence service, the Shin Bet -- voiced a scathing and personal critique of Netanyahu and Barak. Diskin questioned not only the leaders' policy, but also their very judgment and capacity to lead, warning against their "messianic" approach to Iran's nuclear program.

Read more ....

My Comment: I expect these military/intelligence officials will quickly fall in line when the new coalition government in Jerusalem starts to articulate a common Iranian policy. But for the moment .... these former (and current) spy masters are making their opinions widely known.

New Unity Formed In Israel. Elections Are Cancelled

Israel Forms Unity Government, Wards Off September Elections -- CNN

Jerusalem (CNN) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing Likud party have agreed to form a unity government with the rival centrist political faction Kadima in a move that will put off elections until late next year and create one of the largest coalition governments in Israeli history.

The deal was reached early Tuesday morning between Netanyahu and Kadima Party leader Shaul Mofaz, a day after Netanyahu had publicly called for early elections to be held September 4.

Read more ....

More News On A New Unity Government Being Formed In Israel

Israeli premier Netanyahu unveils unity government -- AP
Netanyahu surprise gives Israel grand coalition -- Reuters
In surprise move, Netanyahu, Mofaz agree to form unity government, cancel early elections -- Haaretz
Early Israeli elections canceled amid speculation of Iran attack -- FOX News/AP
Netanyahu, stunning Israel by forging unity bloc, defends move as pro-stability -- Haaretz
Israel's Netanyahu strikes surprise coalition deal -- The Guardian
Israel PM in shock deal with rivals -- Sydney Morning Herald
Israeli political allies, foes stunned by elections cancellation, unity government -- Xinhuanet
Israel deal does not make a strike on Iran less likely -- The Guardian
Netanyahu's power play pays off -- Jonathan Marcus, BBC
Unity deal gives Israel’s Netanyahu a free hand on Iran -- Patrick Martin, Globe and Mail

My Comment: This is a surprise, and tells me that there must be a very good reason (that they are not telling us) on why this coalition government was formed.

Early Elections Called In Israel

Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, said at a Likud party meeting that he wants to call an early general election. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters

Israeli PM Calls for Early Parliamentary Elections -- Voice of America

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called for early parliamentary elections, indicating that he would like them to be held in four months. Mr. Netanyahu's right-wing coalition has been one of the most stable in recent times. But there were growing divisions, primarily over domestic issues.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the dissolution of his coalition government more than a year before scheduled elections and told cheering members of his Likud party that he would like elections to be held in September.


Read more ....

More News On Early Elections Called In Israel

Netanyahu Calls for Early Elections in Israel -- New York Times
Netanyahu calls for early general election in Israel -- BBC
Benjamin Netanyahu calls early Israel election -- The Telegraph
Netanyahu to seek Israeli election on Sept 4 -- Reuters
Netanyahu calls for early polls in Israel -- New York Daily News
Netanyahu: Speedy elections will stabilize Israel's political system -- Haaretz
Israel to Hold Elections in Four Months -- Epoch Times
Israel’s move toward vote may shelve an Iran strike -- Stars and Stripes/L.A. Times
Early elections means Netanyahu is taking his foot off the Iran pedal -- Haaretz

Where Does Israeli Security Officials Stand On Attacking Iran?

Where Does The Israeli Security Establishment Stand On Attacking Iran? -- Christian Science Monitor

A look at disclosed positions.

In an interview released Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak made no bones about attacking the commitment to Israel's security of two retired senior security officials.

Former Mossad boss Meir Dagan and former Shin Bet boss Yuval Diskin have joined former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in recent weeks in warning against an Israeli attack on Iran any time soon. Mr. Barak dismissed their views as serving Iranian interests, saying the "Olmert gang is traveling around the world and speaking in a way that is serving Iran."

With Israeli elections now looking set for early September, and already being framed by the Israeli press as a referendum on the hawkish Iran policy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, expect a flood of statements, arguments and analysis on this issue in the months ahead.

Read more ....

My Comment: More doves than hawks in this group .... but in the end .... it will be a political decision to strike Iran .... not a military one.

Israel's Ex-Intelligence Chief Critical Of PM's Stance On Iran

Israel Ex-Security Chief Says Leadership 'Misleading Public' On Iran -- BBC

The former head of Israel's domestic intelligence agency has accused the country's leadership of "misleading" the public on the merits of a possible military strike on Iran.

Yuval Diskin said an attack might speed up any attempt by Iran to obtain a nuclear bomb.

The comment follows remarks by other leading figures contradicting the prime minister and defence chief's views on the subject.

Iran denies it is seeking nuclear arms.

Read more ....

More News On Ex-Spy Chief Yuval Diskin Criticisms Of The Israeli Government's Stance On Iran

Former Shin Bet chief: Netanyahu not interested in peace talks -- Haaretz
Israel ex-spy warns against "messianic" Iran war -- The Economist
Ex-Israeli Security Chief Questions Current Leadership -- New York Times
Israeli ex-intel chief slams PM's Iran stance -- Houston Chronicle/AP
Ex-Israeli spy boss attacks Netanyahu and Barak over Iran -- The Guardian
Shin Bet chief's vote of no confidence is another blow to Netanyahu and Barak -- Haaretz
'Diskin continues legacy of moronic Shin Bet leaders' -- YNet News
Politicians slam Diskin over 'crude' comments -- Jerusalem Post