UN Speech Past, Netanyahu Faces Budget Passage or Early Elections

The intense political speculation that surrounded Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s United Nations speech now past, attention is turning to whether the PM will succeed in passing his budget by the end of the year as is required by law, or end up facing early elections. The present term officially concludes with an October 2013 election, but even before his return from New York, Netanyahu’s first order of business was to admonish his coalition partners that either his budget is supported, or it will be time to prepare for a new round of elections. Polls continue to show Netanyahu in command. Rather than voting for individuals, Israelis vote for parties, the strongest of which is given the opportunity to create a ruling coalition of at least 61 out of 120 parliamentary seats. Just prior to the diversion to the issue of Iranian nukes and the UN, Israelis were reacting angrily to massive budget cuts and increases in the already high cost of living. Although seemingly secure on issues relating to the nation’s defense, Netanyahu’s vulnerability on social and economic issues will be severely tested by his political foes seeking to piggy-back on the popular socio-economic protest movement.