No Tzipi

Good news from Israel.

Kadima leader Tzipi Livni has failed to form a viable coalition and will recommend going to general elections...

For those who don't speak Hebrew, Tzipi Livni is roughly translated into English as "dog face." Earlier today President Shimon Peres told the Knesset that there is no chance of forming a government, setting the country on the road to elections. The Knesset now has up to 21 days during which any of its members could, with the backing of 61 of its 120 members can attempt to form a coalition. No observers expect that to occur. General elections are now expected in or before February 2009.

With the coming election of Barack Obama here in the states look for Israel to take a welcome turn to the right. Obama's foreign policy gestalt is essentially distilled from a plethora of anti-Zionist talking points gained over a lifetime spent on the fringe left. When the fringe becomes mainstream in January, Israel will require a leader who is willing to resist intimidation from Washington to make concessions to its enemies.

Mike