'Demagogue' Makes Waves in Israeli Race

Likud leader secures support of ultranationalist Lieberman

(AP) - Benjamin Netanyahu is now all but certain to become Israel's prime minister after winning the backing of Avigdor Lieberman, whose far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party came in third in last week's election. Centrist Tzipi Livni edged out hawkish Netanyahu in the Feb. 10 poll, but Netanyahu has garnered the endorsement of more lawmakers. Lieberman's party made the announcement at a meeting with Shimon Peres, the president, who will now invite Netanyahu to form a government. More»

Bill would force non-Jews to pledge loyalty to Jewish state

(NEWSER) - Israel’s Arab minority is decrying a new law that would force new citizens who are not Jewish to pledge a loyalty oath to the “Jewish and democratic” state. Critics say the bill is yet another move intended to stifle dissent and marginalize the country’s Arabs, who already feel like second-class citizens, the AP reports. The bill's defenders, who include Benjamin Netanyahu, say Israel must preserve its Jewish identity. More»

(NEWSER) - Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to endorse a two-state solution to the Palestinian problem this weekend, the Times of London reports. The decision follows intense pressure from the Obama administration to recognize the need for a Palestinian state. The US also wants Israel to stop expanding settlements in the West Bank, but Netanyahu may use the two-state concession as a bargaining chip in that negotiation. More»

Netanyahu, Abbas will meet president—but maybe not each other

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama has invited the leaders of Israel, Egypt, and the Palestinian Authority for talks in Washington in a new bid for a Middle East peace agreement, reports the BBC. Obama extended the invitations after a meeting yesterday with Jordan’s King Abdullah, at which the president spoke of "profound cynicism" surrounding the peace process. There is no guarantee the Israeli and Palestinian leaders would meet directly. More»

Palestinians must first accept Jewish state, Netanyahu responds

(NEWSER) - The Obama administration’s envoy to the Middle East told the Israeli government today that Washington will “vigorously pursue” the creation of a Palestinian state, Reuters reports. George Mitchell stated America’s purpose as a means to organize statehood talks with Israel; PM Benjamin Netanyahu said it would first be necessary for Palestinians to recognize and accept that Israel is a Jewish state. More»