Joshua Lapide

It is an open challenge to the USA who wants a freeze on colonies in the West bank and East Jerusalem. The fears of Peace Now. UN says all settlements are illegal.

For the first time the Israeli prime minister accepts the possibility of a Palestinian state, but with certain conditions: demilitarisation, no domestic airspace control, recognition of Israel as a “Jewish State”, and Jerusalem as the undivided capital of the Jews. For Netanyahu Jewish settlements on the Occupied Territories must continue. The US sees the speech as a “step forward”. Israeli rightwing is very cool to the idea.

Israel conducts war games and emergency drills involving its population and schools. Its exercises include possible missile attacks from the north and the south. Israeli air force gets ready to block air strikes and missiles from Syria and Iran. Obama is growing impatient with Iran.

The teen who was killed and the boy who was wounded may have been victims of the "guilt" of their parents, members of a settlement in the Occupied Territories. Netanyahu and Liebermann halt the peace process; Hamas and Fatah break off reconciliation talks.

Hamas seems to have backtracked on its position. Disagreement on the number of Palestinian prisoners who must leave the country on their release. The freeing of Gilad Shalit is a highly sensitive issue and in Israel it is achieved with the end of the Olmert government.

The far right party Yisrael Beiteinu will take the foreign ministry and the ministries of security, tourism, and immigrant absorption. Agreement from the Shas party is also expected today. Lieberman's secularist demands have been reduced, but dialogue with the Palestinians is becoming much more difficult.

A national dialogue should lead to a caretaker government able to gain international recognition and 3 billion dollars in aid for Gaza. The population remains by and large cautious since both groups have been plagued by corruption.

One woman was injured by broken glass. The Israeli army has responded with six artillery rounds. The incident seems to have come to a close, but Israel is holding the Lebanese army and government responsible for the attacks. In 2006, similar strikes prompted the war in southern Lebanon.

A comic pokes fun at Jesus and Our Lady, saying he wants to “deny Christianity” since Christians “deny the Holocaust.” Christians and Muslims express solidarity.

With 99% of votes counted, Kadima leads with 28 seats; Likud has 27. The problem will be how to build alliances with other parties to form a ruling majority. The real winner seems to be the Yisrael Beitenu party of Avigdor Liebermann: the new government will depend on his decision.

For now, turnout is higher than in the previous general elections. 20% of Israelis are unsure of how they should vote. Mahmoud Abbas says that he will collaborate with any government. But the Palestinians are afraid that victory for the right would strengthen Hamas.

The favorite - narrowly - seems to be Netanyahu. In any case, Likud or Kadima will have to form a coalition with right and ultra-right parties like that of Liebermann. Christians' fears about Shas.