Peres Picks*

*Image courtesy of AP Images.

President Shimon Peres today flexed his ceremonial might and picked Netanyahu to forge a strong coalition government for Israel. And while I may not agree with some of Netanyahu's stances, he certainly seems iron-willed enough to get the job done. The question is whether or not so many interests will come together for unity. My guess is that they will--eventually, and rather because they perceive the pressing need for security. Greater detail on this task of king-making is available at FoxNews and The Jerusalem Post.

And just as a cursory analysis, I might also note that in the latter link Livni is reportedly already branding Netanyahu an extremist. Yikes. What's the Hebrew phrase for "Poor-Text-Messaging-Loser" or "Sheesh, the honeymoon is finished like last year's Passover"? Really. Must every country have an Al Gore, or is this just something every Left or Center-Left party cannot seem to do without? Not classy, I must say.

Furthermore, Livni is also claiming that her party carries the "alternative of hope," a line that should sound so very familiar to us. Not to be overly harsh, but perhaps she should go back to being a lonely Mossad agent, living out her painful choice of exile in dismal Paris under the disappointed gaze of her father--at least then, one has to keep grousing to oneself to be taken seriously.

In other news, at least Abbas has pledged to get along with Netanyahu's government given some caveats about settlements. . .I suppose time will tell whether Peres made the right decision.