The Israeli Government

More than a month after their elections, the Israelis finally have a government.  Prime Minister Netanyahu continues in his current role.  His Likud party formed a coalition with three other major parties to form a center-right bloc that controls 68 seats in the 120 seat Knesset (parliament).  What is unique about this government is that none of the religious parties are part of the governing coalition.  In Israel, the ultra orthodox parties hold something like 15% of the seats in the Knesset, a number which reflects their share of the population.  By becoming part of successive governments, however, these parties were able to use their influence to gain exemptions from compulsory military service for young men who were engaged in religious studies.  The new government is going to change that system and cut back on, but not eliminate the possibility of such exemptions. 

I expect to see a major outpouring of opposition to these changes when they are enacted.  Hopefully, the resulting upset will not result in the weakening or distraction of the government.  There are too many challenges facing the Israelis at the moment.  Some one has to deal with keeping Iran non-nuclear, and we all know that president Obama has no intention of doing anything about it.  Iran and Hezbollah are now said to be moving 50,000 troops to Syria to help keep Assad in power, and it will be a major geopolitical shift to have such a force located on the borders of Israel.