Israeli elections

Bad Day for Bibi? David Horovitz, Times of Israel. "For all that this is not the government he would have chosen, it still finds Netanyahu where he wanted to be: at the center of a coalition that runs from Jewish Home to his right to Hatnua at the center-left."

Meet the New Politics, Same as the Old Politics Lahav Harkov, Jerusalem Post. "So this is new politics: Not using loaded words, like ultimatum and boycott, but doing exactly what they entail, while covering it up by talking about values.  Lapid played us all."

Elon’s Middle Way Jeremy Rosen, Algemeiner. Menachem Elon—Orthodox rabbi, Talmud scholar, author of the magisterial treatise Jewish Law—opposed enshrining religion in Israeli law.  Now he has died, and his legacy is threatened.

Haredi Holy War Amir Mizroch, Forecast Highs. Fearing that a new alliance between Yesh Atid and Jewish Home will see haredim drafted into the IDF, Israel's haredi rabbis are mounting a fierce campaign to protect the status quo.

Behind Lapid's Mask Jameel Muqata, Jewish Journal. Yesh Atid says it defends a united Jerusalem and the settlements.  But Yair Lapid is on record supporting a divided Jerusalem and pledging to fight against "our extremists, the settlers."

Fischer Pays the Price Dror Marmor, Globes. As Netanyahu’s government tried to reduce housing prices, Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer moved to prop them up.  His recent resignation is no surprise.

A Piecemeal Peace Shlomo Avineri, Foreign Affairs. Post-election, an Israeli-Palestinian peace is no less remote.  Perhaps we should look to places like Cyprus, Bosnia, and Kosovo for ideas that are less ambitious—and more feasible.

The New Haredim Daniel Goldman, Jerusalem Post. A year after the violence between haredim and non-haredim in Beit Shemesh, tensions persist.  But more haredim are entering the workforce and joining the army, and their voice is growing.

Israel’s Election: Finally, Free Markets? Uriel Lynn, Israel Hayom. In the Likud-Beiteinu, Yesh Atid, Jewish Home, and Hatnua parties, Israel has the building blocks of a market-oriented government that could transform the economy.

Israel's Approaching Austerity Avi Temkin, Globes. Yesh Atid's opposition to raising taxes on the middle class presages cuts to welfare, public sector salaries—and the defense budget.