Friday, 28 February 2003

Israeli coalition invested

The final coalition has been invested by the Knesset, according to the Jersualem Post and Haaretz:

Meanwhile, the formation of the coalition still hasn't stopped Mitzna and the coalition parties from sniping at each other, or apparently from still negotiating alternate coalitions, according to the Jerusalem Post:

Labor Party leader Amram Mitzna warned Sharon that the economic and security situations will not improve until negotiations with the Palestinians are resumed and an agreement is reached to establish "two states for two peoples." He also blamed Sharon for the fact that a national-unity government was not established. "It was within reach, but he did not chose to do so," he said, noting that he had chosen National Union leader Avigdor Lieberman and NRP leader Effi Eitam instead.

Shinui MK Yosef Paritzky shot back: "You're to blame," and Shinui leader Yosef Lapid told Labor that it is "not too late to join the government" and create a secular government that can make sweeping reforms.

Of course, the part that warms the heart of my inner political science geek are these coalition promises:

Sharon promised to work to pass a constitution "by consensus" after a number of basic laws are completed.

He also noted that the parties in the coalition have committed to raising the electoral threshold to 2 percent to reduce factionalism.

It's not quite the Lawrence plan (in comments), but it's better than nothing...

Ira Sharkansky (father of Shark Blog's Stefan Sharkansky) has some comments on the coalition's possible outlook on the Palestinian conflict.