Diplomatic gridlock only sure bet for Israel’s next government
Whatever it ends up looking like, it's clear that the next Israeli government won’t pursue negotiations with the Palestinians.
It’s been three weeks since the March 23 election and Israelis are still waiting to find out who will lead the next government, what parties will make up the new coalition and even if a coalition can be formed.
And yet despite all the open questions, the fate of negotiations with the Palestinians is becoming increasingly clear. It can already be assumed that the diplomatic deadlock will continue. In each of three likely possibilities, the next prime minister will be a candidate from the right, with a right-wing worldview and a strong commitment to the settlers.
In one of the three possibilities, Benjamin Netanyahu will remain prime minister. He may succeed in his efforts to form a right-ultra-Orthodox coalition with outside support from the Ra’am party.
In the second possibility, Israel will have a fifth round of elections, and Netanyahu will remain in office as head of a transitional government. Should that happen, he will remain committed to his role as leader of the right.
