People tend to accept the words unity government at face value. In practice, not evey combination that embodies "unity" necessarily also represents a government. When people say unity, they mean a broad coalition. But such a coalition does not always give a government. For there to be a unity government, the unity must be expressed not just in the number of parties and Knesset seats; unity must be expressed mainly in agreement on ideas and policies. That is to say, agreement as broad as possible on the main issues on the agenda can turn numerical unity into a unity government.
This has to be made clear since many voices are calling for a unity government almost at any cost. Why? Because, they argue, what is important in the present situation is as broad as possible a government. Why? So that it will deal successfully with the challenges. But for a broad government to serve us well, it has to function. No? So first you have to examine whether it will endure, or will crash right at the start. For example, a cabinet meeting of a broad government. On the table is a proposal to build ten new settlements. What will Kadima do? In accordance with its stance it can do only one thing: vote against. Just as it is obliged to vote against raising child allowances. Or, from the other side, Kadima proposes to evacuate illegal settlements. How will Likud vote? Of course, there is no point asking that question about Shas, Lieberman, and the rest of the right-wing block.
Whoever demands a unity government is present conditions is giving up on even a minimum of unity of ideas. Despite that, you hear public figures and journalists urging Tzipi Livni . The Kadima leadership counters that the party's principles do not permit it to sit in a basically right-wing government. So they accuse her of ego-tripping, putting personal interests first, and so on. And who leads the accusers? Netanyahu, who knows that everything he does is for the sake of heaven.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on February 26, 2009
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