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| Israeli settlement move risks further isolation, say Netanyahu opponents | Israeli settlement move risks further isolation, say Netanyahu opponents |
| (30 days later) | |
| Opposition politicians have warned that Israel risks becoming further isolated internationally following the diplomatic furore surrounding Binyamin Netanyahu's decision to press ahead with highly sensitive settlement expansion in the wake of the UN general assembly's recognition of the state of Palestine. | Opposition politicians have warned that Israel risks becoming further isolated internationally following the diplomatic furore surrounding Binyamin Netanyahu's decision to press ahead with highly sensitive settlement expansion in the wake of the UN general assembly's recognition of the state of Palestine. |
| Tzipi Livni, who formed a new party last week to compete in January's general election, said the prime minister's move "isolates Israel [and] encourages international pressure". | Tzipi Livni, who formed a new party last week to compete in January's general election, said the prime minister's move "isolates Israel [and] encourages international pressure". |
| Referring to steps to develop the E1 area, east of Jerusalem, and last month's operation in Gaza, she said: "In one month of dangerous military and diplomatic moves, Netanyahu formed a Hamas state in Gaza, a Palestinian state in the UN and now, with his response, made Israel appear guilty in the eyes of the world." | Referring to steps to develop the E1 area, east of Jerusalem, and last month's operation in Gaza, she said: "In one month of dangerous military and diplomatic moves, Netanyahu formed a Hamas state in Gaza, a Palestinian state in the UN and now, with his response, made Israel appear guilty in the eyes of the world." |
| The Labour politician Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said the international community was "losing its patience to Netanyahu's irresponsible policies". The decision on settlement expansion was, he said, "a badly timed decision" which "risks the loss of support from the United States and from European countries … [and] can lead Israel to international isolation." | The Labour politician Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said the international community was "losing its patience to Netanyahu's irresponsible policies". The decision on settlement expansion was, he said, "a badly timed decision" which "risks the loss of support from the United States and from European countries … [and] can lead Israel to international isolation." |
| Despite growing international pressure on Israel, Netanyahu appears to have little to fear from voters in the Israeli election. An opinion survey last week found that his rightwing coalition, Likud Beiteinu, formed with the hardline foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, was on course to emerge from the poll as the biggest party in Israel's parliament, the Knesset. | Despite growing international pressure on Israel, Netanyahu appears to have little to fear from voters in the Israeli election. An opinion survey last week found that his rightwing coalition, Likud Beiteinu, formed with the hardline foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, was on course to emerge from the poll as the biggest party in Israel's parliament, the Knesset. |
| The coalition is on course to win 37 out of the Knesset's 120 seats, with its nearest rival, Labour, expected to secure 19 seats. Between 55% and 67% of respondents to the survey said Netanyahu was the most suitable candidate for the post of prime minister when pitted against a range of other party leaders. | The coalition is on course to win 37 out of the Knesset's 120 seats, with its nearest rival, Labour, expected to secure 19 seats. Between 55% and 67% of respondents to the survey said Netanyahu was the most suitable candidate for the post of prime minister when pitted against a range of other party leaders. |
| While the international community views Netanyahu's policies with growing concern, the prime minister's backing within Israel appears to be solid. Indeed, following the ceasefire that ended last month's mini-war in Gaza, a clear majority of those polled were against the truce, hawkishly preferring the government and military continue the onslaught in which more than 160 Palestinians were killed. | While the international community views Netanyahu's policies with growing concern, the prime minister's backing within Israel appears to be solid. Indeed, following the ceasefire that ended last month's mini-war in Gaza, a clear majority of those polled were against the truce, hawkishly preferring the government and military continue the onslaught in which more than 160 Palestinians were killed. |
| The Israeli public has moved steadily to the right over recent decades, and the political reach of relatively leftist and "pro-peace" parties has collapsed. Part of the explanation is disillusion in the so-called peace process and alarm at the rise of Islamist parties in Gaza and elsewhere in the region. The right has also been buoyed by the influx of one million immigrants from the former Soviet Union with a strong identification with rightwing politics. | The Israeli public has moved steadily to the right over recent decades, and the political reach of relatively leftist and "pro-peace" parties has collapsed. Part of the explanation is disillusion in the so-called peace process and alarm at the rise of Islamist parties in Gaza and elsewhere in the region. The right has also been buoyed by the influx of one million immigrants from the former Soviet Union with a strong identification with rightwing politics. |
| Increasing diplomatic isolation could indirectly shore up support for Netanyahu, according to Gil Hoffman, chief political correspondent of the Jerusalem Post. "Israelis are under the impression that the entire world is against them, no matter what they do," he said. | Increasing diplomatic isolation could indirectly shore up support for Netanyahu, according to Gil Hoffman, chief political correspondent of the Jerusalem Post. "Israelis are under the impression that the entire world is against them, no matter what they do," he said. |
| Most Israelis supported the expansion of "quality of life" settlements close to the pre-1967 Green Line, as distinct from ideologically hardline settlements deep inside the West Bank, he added. "By making such an uproar over a consensus issue, the international community is actually discouraging concessions in the future." | Most Israelis supported the expansion of "quality of life" settlements close to the pre-1967 Green Line, as distinct from ideologically hardline settlements deep inside the West Bank, he added. "By making such an uproar over a consensus issue, the international community is actually discouraging concessions in the future." |
| On issues relating to Israel's security and the Palestinians, "no one on the right can challenge Netanyahu. This strengthens him, it plays into his hands," Hoffman said. "The international community has made that mistake time and time again. It's not Netanyahu who's shifting Israel to the right, but European politicians like [the British foreign secretary] William Hague." | On issues relating to Israel's security and the Palestinians, "no one on the right can challenge Netanyahu. This strengthens him, it plays into his hands," Hoffman said. "The international community has made that mistake time and time again. It's not Netanyahu who's shifting Israel to the right, but European politicians like [the British foreign secretary] William Hague." |
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