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Palestinians Must Unite Before Israeli Elections

Clovis Maksoud writes that the likely victory by right-wing parties in the coming Israeli elections sets a deadline for Palestinian reconciliation.
Bodyguards for Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stand in position during a campaign's conference for the coming general elections in Tel Aviv January 14, 2013. Netanyahu has a simple message as he seeks a third term in office - he is a strong man and a vote for him at parliamentary elections on January 22 means Israel will be a powerful nation. REUTERS/ Nir Elias (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY)

It looks like the growing right-wing constituency in Israel is no longer satisfied with the Likud and Yisrael Beitenu alliance alone. They have responded positively to a new nationalist party headed by Naftali Bennett called "Jewish Home" — a movement that marginalizes anything moderate and renders what remains of the so-called “left” powerless.

The new elections are going to result in more proliferation of settlements, more creeping annexation and less Palestinian access to East Jerusalem as a future capital of Palestine. The competition among these right-wing parties lies in how quickly they can expedite the annexation of the West Bank.

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