Arab Spring challenges Israel leader Benjamin Netanyahu

6 May 2011 Last updated at 02:31 ET

As the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu takes his campaign against a unity pact between the two main Palestinian factions to Europe he faces major policy challenges, says the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem.

There is a satirical TV show in Israel which portrays Benjamin Netanyahu as an operatic baritone, stretching and bending every note he sings in a desperate effort to play for time as the chorus plagues him with awkward questions.

What is to be done about the Palestinians and their plans to ask the UN to recognise their statehood in September they ask; what will the Israeli prime minister say in the speech to Congress in which he will have to ensure that the US at least remains bound to Israel in the face of a rising tide of support for the Palestinians.

In the programme - Wonderful Country or Eretz Nehedorot - the Netanyahu character responds by suggesting he'll throw in the odd low note, interspersed with high notes. By way of variation he suggests he might thump the podium for emphasis.

remainder: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13293264

New leadership is needed in Israel to seize this moment.

...from the poll numbers I've seen, any "new leadership" is likely to be even more hard-line and resistant to a peace deal than Netanyahu. Like it or not, the rightward shift in Israeli politics sees no sign of abating -- young voters appear to be far more right-wing and anti-Palestinian than their elders. :-(

Here is a poll from earlier this year:

Q: If Knesset elections were held today, which party would you vote for?

* Kadima - 30 (28)
* Likud - 26 (27)
* Yisrael Beiteinu - 16 (15)
* Shas - 10 (11)
* Labor - 8 (13)
* United Torah Judaism - 6 (5)
* Meretz - 5 (3)
* Jewish Home/National Religious Party - 4 (3)
* National Union - 3 (4)
* Arab parties - 10 (11)
* Independence - 2

And recent polls that add Amram Mitzna to the mix show that if he was to become the leader of the Labor Party the top three vote getters would be Kadima 25, Likud 24, and Labor 17 with Mitzna.

Also the majority of those surveyed believe that Israel should recognize and independent Palestinian state and that Netanyahu should present a peace plan that makes significant concessions.

Am I reading that right? If so, it's a good sign that Barak's arrogance in splitting away from Labor rather than just giving up the leadership and retiring doesn't seem to have been rewarded.

It's depressing as hell that Beitenyu's support is holding up, I must say.

Forward is Kadima (Livni's party).

In any case, Barak's new party is only just being launched officially this week:

Barak readies to launch Independence Party

Four months after he deserted the Labor Party, Defense Minister Ehud Barak is set to officially launch the new Independence Party on Thursday.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4066451,00.html

When it was first announced - I believe the party polled around 2-3 seats (they have 5 now in their current incarnation).

Who knows if the formal "launch" will generate any interest. Personally, I doubt it.

n/t.

Former Labor Chairman Ehud Barak's new party – "Independence" – was formally introduced Thursday, holding its founding conference in Tel Aviv.

At the meeting, Barak told followers that he had "good news and bad news. The bad news is that right now, we're at the bottom of the polls; the good news is – the only way is up."

Ex-Labor Knesset members Einat Wilf, Minister for Home Front Defense Matan Vilnai, Industry, Trade and Labor Minister Shalom Simhon and Agriculture Minister Orit Noked – who are the core group of the new party – were in attendance as well.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4067949,00.html