Who invented the formula that uniting several parties boosts their power? How did commentators decide that the recent Likud-Yisrael Beytenu unification must lead to a unification of opposition forces as well- This kind of thinking is superficial at best, amateurish at worst. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is highly likely to lead the next government. His supporting bloc seems most likely to be able to assemble a coalition. The fresh merger with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman is not why Netanyahu is the leading candidate for prime minister; it is because of the current electoral situation in Israel. Netanyahu joined forces with Lieberman to secure his continued reign, but I believe he actually made a terrible mistake, both morally and electorally. One might argue with the direction of Netanyahu's policies, but he knows well that Lieberman is persona non-grata in many countries that provide vital support to Israel. So why would he choose to taint the Likud with Lieberman's imprint- This merger will not lead to electoral gains. Likud votes will trickle over to Shas, which will help strengthen the opposing parties. Lieberman and his Yisrael Beytenu party can't attract religious people or Mizrahim (Jews from Arab countries), though perhaps the unified bloc was created as an attempt to do so. I won't claim that this merger could keep Netanyahu from the premiership, but it certainly didn't push him in that direction. Lieberman is associated with alienation and enmity toward Arab-Israelis, the transfer of Arab-Israelis to other Arab countries and identification with a political culture imported from a land that was once locked behind the Iron Curtain. What is the connection between him and Likud values- The merger was initially received with support due to its successful confidentiality and the presentation of an easily digestible finished product. But since the announcement, calls for Shelly Yachimovich, Yair Lapid and Tzipi Livni to join hands and build a strong alternative camp have increased. In my opinion, the power of division is stronger than the power of a union or merger. Yachimovich has a clear strategy as leader of the Labor party. I don't identify with certain elements contained within it, but she does have a new spirit and confidence, which may lead to great improvements for a heavily burdened public. Lapid appeals to a different public, especially to Lieberman voters. Lapid's agenda is different than Yachimovichs. Livni, for her part, still enjoys the luxury of national glory and integrity, and these havent expired despite her past mistakes. Every party that is not part of the right-wing bloc needs to approach the upcoming elections with its flag held high and its own unique leadership. That way Labor, Livni, Yesh Atid (Lapid's "There is a Future" party) and Meretz can each separately attempt to reduce the strength of the new Likud-Yisrael Beytenu electoral bloc, offering a possible alternative to Netanyahu. Parties in the Center and on the Left must not unite. They should not invest their energies in formulas for compromise and a "renunciation of egos." Each candidate must enter the elections on his or her own to potential to form a coalition, or join a coalition formed by another party. Parties must remain true to their identity.
