Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surprised Israel (and its Arab neighbors) when he announced the creation of a unity government on May 8. Joining forces with the centrist Kadima party, Mr. Netanyahu secured a larger majority in the parliament, giving himself more leeway to pursue potentially controversial policies. The following is a roundup of opinions and editorials from Israeli and Arab perspectives. While Israelis focused on the impact of the move on contentious domestic issues, including the end of military exemptions for ultrareligious Jews, Arab media saw one motive: Strengthening Israel´s hand toward Iran.

1. al-Quds al-Arabi (Britain)

Netanyahu is forming a war government (in Arabic)

Opinion: Ra´i Al-Quds

The London-based al-Quds al-Arabi ran an opinion piece on the new Israeli coalition government, which the writer Ra´i Al-Quds called a “war alliance, not an alliance of peace.”

“No one knows what goes on through the mind of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on many regional issues these days. One can predict that this man is scheming and planning wars after murdering the peace process with the settlement policy in the occupied Arab territories,” Mr. Al-Quds says. He points to “ancient objectives” being renewed through the unity government, which increases Mr. Netanyahu’s majority in the Knesset, or House of Representatives, to three-quarters.

Al-Quds says the alliance strengthens Netanyahu’s power, pushing back elections by at least a year. [The unity government was created in the eleventh hour of a May 7 parliamentary session, where the body was working toward legislation that would move elections up to September 2012, in light of an unstable government]. Along with Netanyahu’s fortified prowess will come a greater threat not only for Iran, but the Gaza strip and southern Lebanon, home to Hezbollah, as well, says Al-Quds.

2. Haaretz (Israel)

Like Ariel Sharon, Netanyahu has been pushed to the center

Opinion: Ari Shavit

In the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Ari Shavit writes that this is “the biggest national unity government in Israeli history,” and though he concedes that it was a surprise, even for political analysts like himself, he argues it will reap positive results for Israel.

“To a certain extent, it was a dirty trick. The deal made a mockery of many of the words uttered and promises made in these parts over the past several months.... But this dirty trick is also an encouraging one. It means Israel has a stable government with an enormous nonreligious majority. It means Israel has a government that is explicitly committed to changing the system of government...

Finally we have a government representing the Israeli majority, a government that no niche party can extort. Finally we have a government with a clear Zionist majority.”

Mr. Shavit notes there are four stated goals behind the formation of a unity government, including changing the governing system, passing new laws on the conscription of ultra-orthodox Israelis into the army, and initiating a responsible peace process.

“But its real goal is Iran.... It creates a firm political foundation on which to conduct the strategic sparring with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei [of Iran].

The national unity government provides domestic and international legitimacy to the anticipated confrontation.... Now the Iran decision will be the joint decision of Netanyahu, Defense Minister Ehud Barak, Mofaz and Vice Prime Minister and Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya´alon. … The Iranian crisis could erupt any day - or night...”

Note: Zionism is support for the state of Israel, regardless of whether on is religiously observant or secular.

3. al-Madina (Saudi Arabia)

Israel prepares for war

Editorial

al-Madina, a paper based in Saudi Arabia, wrote an editorial characterizing Netanyahu as a statesman “concerned about his status in Israeli history” who wants to be remembered as “the leader who destroyed the Iranian nuclear program and solidified Israel’s nuclear monopoly in the region.”

4. The Jerusalem Post (Israel)

Candidly speaking: Unity gov’t – opportunities and dangers by Isi Leibler and First thoughts on a unity government by Caroline B. Glick

The Jerusalem Post offered two perspectives. The first, by Isi Leibler, notes the popularity of a unity government in Israel given the difficulties the country has faced in maintaining a stable legislative body over the past 20 years.

The vast majority of Israelis will undoubtedly welcome this move which, if managed effectively, could finally overcome the great divide which has so hurt the nation....

It could make Netanyahu one of the most powerful prime ministers Israel has ever had. By following a responsible centrist policy he will no longer be subject to blackmail or humiliation by the ... extreme Right fringes … or outside challengers... It will also immensely improve his global standing and relationship with President Barack Obama and the Americans in relation to the Iranian threat and Palestinian intransigency.

But Netanyahu is also taking an enormous risk. He was a virtual certainty to win the election, but if he mishandles this unity move... this move could represent an end to his flourishing political career.

A second piece, written by columnist Caroline B. Glick, focuses more on the ulterior motives of the unity government. In her column, titled “First thoughts on a unity government,” she says the Israeli public will no doubt rally behind Netanyahu if he decides to launch an attack on Iran, though there may have been other political scenarios motivating him:

When taken on its merits, the unity deal is an example of a situation in which Netanyahu was presented with an offer he’d be an idiot to refuse.

…

[T]here is an economic aspect to this decision. By bringing Kadima into his coalition, Netanyahu effectively ensured that his free market economic policies will be maintained and the socialist voices in Israeli politics will be marginalized for the next year or so.

With France going socialist, Israel’s Left, led by Labor Party leader and Marxist Shelly Yacimovich, would have had more resonance in the public for its statist, deficit spending economic platform.

Now Netanyahu got another year during which the public will see what those policies are doing to Europe and so make his economic arguments for him. (© The Christian Science Monitor. 05/09/12)