Becoming Prime Minister Again: Benyamin Netanyahu's Blessing or Curse?

Nine days after the election, Israel finally seems to be nearing a decision on who their next prime minister will be. Expect Netanyahu to be chosen tomorrow, Rena Matzleach predicted on Israel's Channel 2 news. And added that, "Netanyahu has already announced that he will call on both Tzipi Livni and Ehud Barak to join a wide coalition."

But getting Livni and Barak to join his government could be more complicated than it sounds. Livni now says that Bibi's "natural partners" are not her own and she would prefer to sit in the opposition. Barak has been making similar statements.

Unless he finds a way to bring them in quickly, Netanyahu might find himself stuck with a narrow right-wing coalition.

But then it will get more complicated. Without the seats of the major parties Kadima (27) and Labor (13), Netanyhau will likely be forced to include two warring parties--the religious party Shas and the anti-Arab, secularist Yisrael Beitenu. That will be difficult not only because of their mutual hostility, but also because he has promised sought after ministries to both.

Netanyahu promised so many government positions to other parties, Israel's Channel 2 News reported tonight, that he may find that there is virtually nothing left for his own.