Benjamin Netanyahu Benjamin Netanyahu Photo by Olivier Fitoussi
Text size this story is by  The scheduling of an early election
at the end of the summer, as per the bill submitted by Likud to
the Knesset Wednesday, is expected to shorten the term of one of
the worst governments the country has ever had, if not the
worst.  The right-wing coalition headed by Likud in cooperation
with Yisrael Beiteinu, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Atzmaut and
Habayit Hayehudi has led the peace process with the Palestinians
to a new nadir and has distanced the two-state solution - the
only solution that can ensure Israel's Jewish and democratic
character.  Even the dramatic changes generated by the Arab
Spring in the Middle East did not spur Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu to exchange his fearmongering and isolationist
policies for diplomatic initiative.  Netanyahu managed to bring
the issue of the Iranian nuclear program to the top of the
international agenda, contributing to pressure on Tehran. But
foot-dragging in negotiation