Israel’s Centrist Victory
Tsipi Livni’s Kadima party, Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s Labor party all fall within a centrist consensus, which also reflects popular sentiment. Israelis want a peace deal with the Palestinians in exchange for a two-state solution, but they also understand that there is no Palestinian leadership strong or moderate enough to bring it about.
JERUSALEM – Israel’s election is a victory for centrism and national consensus. Indeed, that is the key to understanding not only the vote count, but also Israeli public opinion, the next government, and its policies.