Political Dreamin'

It is one week since the voting and we are no closer to seeing a stable government formed than we were before the elections. At this early stage, before the President taps the leader who has the best chance of forming a coalition, everything is up in the air.  Netanyahu expects to get the nod from Peres because he believes he has the greatest appeal to the largest number of parties and Knesset members.  Livni is still demanding to form the government because with one seat advantage over Bibi she believes the job is rightly hers. Lieberman, who many think holds the key to the next coalition, is on vacation.

As the days pass, it becomes more apparent just how complicated the current scenario is.  Bibi wants desperately to avoid an extreme rightwing-ultra Orthodox government that in fact will be anathema to most Israelis - - and to the U.S. - - but is so far refusing to consider a coalition with Tzipi that will include rotation of the prime minister.  Livni is confident that she should be the first choice and states very clearly that she will go with one of three options: 1) Kadima-led unity government 2) prime ministerial rotation with Likud 3) opposition. Lieberman, as noted, is on vacation.

Because it is so darn hard to live without hope, my political fantasy of the moment is that Kadima does not buckle under and join a rightwing government destined to endless infighting and offensive deal making that will only postpone the disreputable end of another dysfunctional government. I am dreaming that Tzipi finds a way to resist the temptation, even of rotation. Instead, I imagine her with gutsy determination going straight into the opposition with Labor and Meretz where, touched by a magic wand, they decide to form a new political bloc committed to sanity, honesty, democracy and equality for all citizens all the time.  This new coalition gains strength and unity while on the outside, rebuilding and renewing, so that the minute Bibi goes under, they are ready to take over.

Alas, Lieberman will return from vacation and I will return to reality.