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Netanyahu faces coalition tightrope

Benjamin Netanyahu needs to form a coalition that will not harm his relationship with President Donald Trump, but also one that will protect him in case he is indicted.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hugs U.S. President Donald Trump as they talk during meetings at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 25, 2019. REUTERS/Carlos Barria - RC15FD644460
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After the Likud’s successful showing in Israel's April 9 elections, US President Donald Trump rushed to congratulate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On April 10, Trump told reporters on the White House lawn, “I think we have a better chance now that Bibi has won.… I think we’ll see some pretty good action in terms of peace.” A few hours earlier that same day, Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, had announced that the administration would be rolling out its long-awaited Middle East peace plan in the “very near future.” Regardless of such statements, it’s unlikely that many are enthusiastically anticipating the dawn of a new day. If anything, there appears to be a failure, or even an escalation, waiting to happen.

Before or soon after the next Israeli government is formed, the plan will be rolled out that the team headed by Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and adviser, worked on for two years and changed substantially at least twice. Netanyahu, whether after reading it or only receiving general information about it, will praise the United States and its president, thank Trump for the extraordinary effort his administration invested in developing the plan, and call it an important move in a new and promising direction compared to previous plans. He will add that many points are acceptable to him, but there are also some troubling issues that would be very difficult to accept due to Israel's vital interest. Thus, although he sees the document as a basis for very serious negotiations with the Arab world and with the Palestinians, he will have to discuss it seriously with his colleagues in the government and deliver an official response as soon as possible. 

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