Centrist party leads Israeli elections, but big gains for Likud Party...

Ah crap! Well, this is typical of a country when they feel threatened... they lean to the right. I like Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni far better than Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party. There was a time I embraced Israel's hard liners and the likes of Netanyahu. Then I saw him trying to lobby the American public on the conservative Glenn Beck show when Glenn was on CNN.

Netanyahu was trying to make the case about how America and Israel face the same threat from terrorism, so we have a lot in common. I would like to say to Netanyahu that America only gets terrorized because of our totally unconditional support of Israel. I'm not suggesting we desert our "friend" in the Middle East, but when a "friend" gets carried away, then a true friend of theirs will step in and tell them. Since the U.S. helped to create the modern state of Israel, the U.S. should have a say over there. This is especially true, considering the billions of dollars of aid and military hardware we supply them with.

I'm not sure Livni would be much different, but if they say she is more centrist, I would take the chance. I certainly hope that if Israel tries to get some kind of permission from the Obama Administration to try some kind of foolhardy attack on Iran, that Obama stops them. Certainly, if Iraq is any kind of sovergn nation now they would not approve overflight of Israeli fighters, would they? Obama should insist that border crossings into Gaza are opened for relief aid as much as is possible.

I read that Israel's President, Shimon Peres, will pick the Prime Minister based on who has the best liklihood of forming a successful coalition. So even if Livni's party wins the most votes, they might not be represented by Prime Minister.

I was hoping for moderation so Iran would follow suit and get a more moderate replacement for Pres. "A" in their upcoming election. Now, I fear they will react to Israel and keep that prick in office. Certainly this war with Gaza (Hamas) is not playing well in Iran.