Likud is not happy with American president Barack Obama. Likud MK’s (Members of Knesset) said they believe he is meddlng in Israeli politics by, among others, trying to get Kadiima to join the government coalition and perhaps even blow it up.

Obama believes it is easier to do business with Kadima than with Likud because the latter has accepted the principle of Palestinian statehood, while the latter refuses to do so. Furthermore, Kadima has proved willing to destroy settlements, and may be willing to ground all settlement building to a halt, and to start destroying existing ones in the West Bank.

It is unlikely that Likud is willing to do so, so the White House has decided it has to get Kadima to join the coalition and / or blow it up.

Obviously, Likud ministers and MKs are not happy with the new US policies. They rightly believe that Israelis not Americans decide what happens in their country. Lest we forget, Israel is a democracy.| MORE ›

Palestinian officials told U.S. envoy George Mitchell to pressure Israel into changing its ways and goals:

Palestinian officials are asking President Barack Obama’s Mideast envoy to push Israel to accept the principle of Palestinian statehood.

Envoy George Mitchell is holding talks Friday with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other leaders in the West Bank.| MORE ›

The Jerusalem Post reports:

At the request of the Egyptians, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas decided over the weekend not to ask outgoing Prime Minister Salaam Fayad to form a new government, to avoid closing the door to the establishment of a joint Hamas-Fatah coalition, a senior PA official in Ramallah said Saturday.| MORE ›

Israel’s upcoming Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu said Wednesday he will seek a peace agreement with the Palestinians. The comments were clearly aimed at critics who fear the new center-right government will hinder the peace process and take a hardline approach to the Israel-Palestinians problem.

He said he will negotiate with the Palestinian leadership and work with them to improve their economy.| MORE ›

Labor leader Ehud Barak is having a tough time selling a coalition deal with Likud (led by Benyamin Netanyahu) to members of his party. Labor lost the last elections and seemed unlikely to be part of a coalition led by Netanyahu. However, since the Israeli electorate is deeply divided, Netanyahu had no other option than to reach out to people and parties who would rather not do business with.| MORE ›

The Los Angeles Times reports:

Reporting from Cairo and Jerusalem — U.S. envoy George Mitchell met in Jerusalem today with top Israeli officials to push for what at the moment appears unlikely: substantive talks between a divided Palestinian leadership and the new right-wing government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.| MORE ›

The Associated Press thinks so:

During the election campaign, Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed peace talks with the Palestinians, supported expanding West Bank settlements and warned that concessions only embolden Israel’s enemies.| MORE ›

The Labor party led by Defense Minister Ehud Barak has joined the center right coalition currently being formed by Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu. Barak wanted to join the coalition, but several important Labor figures opposed such a move. After an intense debate earlier today, the party voted to join the coalition nonetheless, however.

Although a majority of Laborites voted to join, many (grassroots) opposed the decision vehemently:| MORE ›