Greetings Friends!

Peace Process or no Peace Process?

This is the question it seems for Israel's new government.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has been working hard to get the parties back to the table. One of the conditions for this was the ceasing of West Bank settlement building – something Israel's Prime Minister had more or less capitulated to a few weeks ago.

However what is said is not necessarily what is done, and settlers have continued to place new buildings in new locations, further complicating the peace push America is making.

Mr. Kerry called the Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Michael Oren to protest the planned legalization of four illegally built West Bank outposts.

Israel's new Government appears not to have a coordinated policy on the Peace Process.

This is the talk of the Israeli media right now.

We have Ministers within the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee stating that the goal government's goal is to restart negotiations with the Palestinians.

However Mr. Netanyahu's new coalition partners have been quick to speak up saying that a two-state solution is not an official government position.

Most notably, Mr. Yair Lapid, Israel's new Finance Minister who blasted his way into Israeli political prominence in last January's election, recently gave an interview to the New York Times saying he is opposed to the Palestinians having a state in the existing framework.

Mr. Netanyahu needs the commitment of its members to the principle of two states for two peoples – the policey Israel has pushed for and America has adopted.

The real question here is where is the Israeli government's real position concerning the peace process. Clearly there are differences among the government members over the Palestinian issue and what an agreement with them should look like.

The Government's policy is negotiations based on two national states which will bring an end to the conflict.

However, neither Mr. Kerry nor Israel's new coalition will be able to get the parties to the table unless there is some enforment of previous obligations of past governments and the forming of consenses among Israel's current coalition.

Brian Bush Middle East Coorespondant LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Friends,

It's being called "Bed-Gate".

Israel's Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and his wife, on their five-hour flight to London for the funeral of the late British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, had a private sleeping compartment specially-installed that included a double sized bed. (The jet itself reportedly cost $300,000 before all this got started).

This cost for the Israeli taxpayer – $127,000.

His advisers said Mr. Netanyahu needed a good rest, and he has said he was unaware of the cost.

People are drawing the comparison of Mr. Netanyahu's cost with that of the President of the State of Israel Shimon Perez who recently flew 11 hours to South Korea for a State visit without any special arrangements – and he will soon be 90 years of age.

Today, two days later, the Netanyahu's are under more fire for 'living like kings in an ivory tower'.

Yesterday, information was released after a months long petition to the courts that the operating budget for the Netanyahu's official and private residences jumped around 80% from 2009 to 2012.

According to the figures, some $1,500,000 was budgeted for operating and maintenance costs for Bibi's official residence in Jerusalem and private residence on the coastal town of Caesarea in 2012 alone.

The Prime Minister's Office released a statement in response saying that the numbers included "the expenses for official events held in the prime minister's home and working expenses for the many meetings held there."

Many Israelis are amazed that no one in the Prime Minister's Office foresaw that, should this information get out, it would be damaging to Mr. Netanyahu and the Prime Minister's Office.

They are asking if the people working in Bibi's office are that much cut off from the public reality?

Or worse yet, are they afraid to speak up?

All this is happening as the State's budget is being reviewed, with public protest over programs being slashed, as austerity measures are being put into place to hold the Israeli economy up.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hi All!

Some here in Israel are beginning to murmur that Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has not carried out the negotiations to form a new coalition properly.

And with all his attempts, it looks almost certain now that he is not going to get the government that he wanted.

Some say it was a mistake to not see Naftali Bennett, leader of the new party Jewish Home until the very last opportunity.

Others say it was because of Netanyahu's rather predictable procedure in Israeli politics of factionalism.

But it is clear that Netanyahu is up against two principled men in Bennit and Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid. They said that they would stick together and they have. Bibi did not know what to do or how to deal with it - other than to make grandiose promises and try to divide them against each other.

So it looks like Mr. Netanyahu has conceded that his new government will be with two invigorated politicians that may look for opportunities to advance their ambitions at his expense. They will run the country and set new agendas doing things differently (at least that's the voter's wish).

One commentary said Mr. Netanyahu and his advisers will operate on a basis of mutual hostility and suspicion.

The big religious parties of Shas and United Torah Judaism, who have always aided Netanyahu, will now be in the opposition seeking to end his government.

They are upset because Netanyahu let them run government ministries during his terms in office that set funds for their interests such as ultra-orthodox schools and municipal services because these parties are particularly dependent on funds from the state budget.

The ultra-orthodox parties have always sought positions of influence to assist their communities.

This is why Lapid and Bennet are where they are now – because the people want to rid the government of the old guard – but in their way is Bibi Netanyahu, who now must work with them. Either way, Bibi's political life is at stake.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hi Everyone,

Just like a game – we are headed into overtime with Israeli politics.

Tomorrow night, Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu is expected to ask President Shimon Perez for another two weeks to form a government.

Netanyahu will have until March 24 to submit his new government coalition.

The parties who have cooperated with him and his Likud Party in past elections have been the Ultra-orthodox parties.

They are now threatening that if they don't join government in this first stage, they won't enter it at all.

Thus the growing assessment in the political establishment is that Mr. Netanyahu will have to surrender on the ultra-orthodox joining in this next government.

Shas officials have commented that Netanyahu has given up on them.

This comes as senior Likud sources have been leaking info that a coalition agreement will be set next week with the newcomers to the Israeli political scene; Mr. Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid and Mr. Naftali Bennett of Jewish Home.

Rumors are circulating that, on the main sticking issue of the Ultra Orthodox joining the army draft, an outline on equality in sharing the burden is on verge of agreement with the two factions.

So it seems that for his own political survival Mr. Netanyahu has accepted the Lapid-Bennett alliance and, in the first stage, will form a government with them.

Shas leader Rabbi Deri has reportedly said to his party leadership that Shas is preparing to sit in the opposition and fight the economic decrees advantageous to his constituancy along with the Labor Party.

So as it turns out, ironically the government that will be formed here in another two weeks or so will be pretty much the same had Netanyahu just formed it two days after the election.

Mr. Netanyahu and the political establishment tried to keep the old guard in place – despite the public voting to the opposite.

The new political stars are sticking together with the threat to take the country to early elections if Netanyahu doesn't cooperate with them – and it's working because Bibi knows he and his Likud would suffer greatly at the hands of the voters should they get the chance to cast their ballots.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello All,

With all the difficulties in coalition negotiations Mr. Bibi Netanyahu is having right now, lets look at the situation in greater detail.

A sign that things are going bad for Netanyahu is that new comer Naftali Bennett's campaign team is reportedly reading to resume campaign activites.

The Jewish Home Party is preparing for the situation in which Mr. Netanyahu will not succeed in forming a coalition.

Their Campaign team held meetings this week and have allegedly upheld their commitment to the Yesh Atid party and its boss Yair Lapid (also a political novice star), and to the potential conditioning of entry into any new government on Netanyahu cancelling Tzipi Livni's appointment as Justice Minister and as the one responsible for diplomatic negotiations.

A spokesperson for the Jewish Home said that the alliance with Lapid is ironclad, and that they would prefer new elections over entering into a new government without him.

So even though Netanyahu has tried – he has been unsuccessful in breaking the alliance between Bennett and Lapid.

Mr. Bennett has said that he will not compromise even if Israel were to go to new elections.

Essentially they will not give in on their party principles. Both he and Lapid feel that it is an abandonment to allow Livni to conduct the diplomatic negotiations with the Palestinian Authority, as she has been involved with previous governments proposals that the two men feel she went too far with the Palestinians.

Mr. Bennett, the former Cabinet Secretary for Mr. Netanyahu, has said he is ready to get to work, but if he and his party will be in the opposition – it will be not be a disaster.

Netanyahu feels Bennett is working to topple a potential right-wing government – something Netanyahu can easily achieve within a day's work.

But standing in the way of this is the people's vote – which clearly demonstrated that the majority of Israelis want the religious parties to send their youth into the army just like anyone else in Israel has to do.

Most of the political factions that would join Netanyahu's government oppose his adopted plan on drafting ultra-orthodox into the Army.

Time is short, and Netanyahu and Bennett are hardening their positions. If Jewish Home does not come into the coalition plans, there most probably will be new elections.

I'll have a live update for you Monday on the Harvest Show – so be sure to join us!

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Everyone,

It has been announced that US President Barack Obama and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu will discuss the Peace Process on the President's upcoming visit to Israel next month.

Where are we at in this process?

Firstly – it's complicated, so in one general question, let's take a brief look.

Question; Does either side really want peace?

Some would argue that for both sides, the cost of peace is much greater than the benefit.

For Israel, there is perceived to be a great security risk entailed in withdrawing to the 1967 cease fire lines.

There is also a lack of confidence that the other side will honor its promises.

From Israel's point of view there is no guarantee that moderates will rule over 'Palestine' and if radicals did – will they honor agreements?

Also, how will you physically (and financially) relocate around approximately 350,000 settlers living in the future 'State of Palestine'?

Regarding the Palestinians, for peace to be achieved they want recognition and one autonomous stretch of land to call a State in which they can freely move.

There is not much desire to live any other way so on their part they are unwilling to pay a price for what is being projected as their sovereign state – a small broken up community,

The American administration will come with incentives and initiatives for solutions that they feel might meet the interests of the two parties.

But one or both sides may feel that it is in their interests to play the game of diplomacy and drag the peace process along with them in hope of future circumstances providing them with better positioning.

In other words; Stalemate after the excitement of the on the ground involvement of the US President.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello All,

Now that we are at the end of the week, let's look more at the analysis on US President Barack Obama's upcoming visit to Israel.

A hot button subject for the media to feed on has been the implications on the formation of the new government coalition.

One reportedly unhappy person is the former Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman who is in legal difficulties for corruption, obstruction of Justice, and bribery at the moment.

Mr. Liberman does not want to see new political star Yair Lapid (the people's choice) sitting next to Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu at his upcoming meeting with President Obama and his newly appointed Secretary of State John Kerry.

The overarching concern for many 'special interest' political parties is that Obama's visit will influence local politics and likely force a diplomatic agenda on the coalition negotiations.

Mr. Netanyahu has often championed the cause of the Right in Israeli politics – particularly when it comes to settlements. And it is settlement activity that is largely blocking the peace process.

So it may be that Mr. Obama, in addition to the administration's admitted non-conflict issues of Iran and Syria, is coming to press Netanyahu's weak points behind closed doors after the Israeli people have had their say in the elections.

Thus, Mr. Netanyahu probably will not wish to welcome President Obama if he is surrounded by ministers representing 'extremist' parties.

Netanyahu will wish to show that he could pull together the broadest possible representation of the Israeli society to demonstrate his mandate from the Israeli voting public.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hi Everybody,

Today here in Israel is a noted day as the 19th Knesset is inaugurated.

The Knesset represents the will of the State of Israel – it is the expression of democracy of it's people.

It certainly has strengths and weaknesses... but one of the surprising things this election has been the record number of women representing their constituencies: 27.

Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, over the last four years, has not had a woman in his Security Cabinet, drawing some peoples ire.

Special interest groups have called for women to become integrated into the security-strategic discourse in the State of Israel

That may change now, as for a fact, 51% of the country is not represented in the most important forum in the country.

This matter, and others, will be part of the coalition negotiations Mr. Netanyahu must go forward with.

Mr. Netanyahu has until March 16th to form a government.

Of course his goal is to create a government that will bring together all parts of the nation together.

Netanyahu has continuously stated that his first priority is stopping the Iranian nuclear project.

He has softened that position somewhat, depending upon who his audience is, because of the success of Mr. Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party and their largely social platform to lower the high cost of living this country suffers from.

The Israeli public's mandate was clear in that Netanyahu was delivered a serious political setback in the election results.

Today, those results now have a 'face' and a 'voice' in the 48 (out of 120) new members of the 19th Knesset of the State.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting

Hello Friends,

Although stated otherwise, the coalition negotiations to form a new government between Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and the surprise of the elections, newcomer Mr. Yair Lapid, have begun in front of television cameras.

Netanyahu has stated (as he has in the past to no avail) that his next new government will push for equality in sharing the burden of military service (to bring the orthodox into the draft), cheaper housing and changing the electoral system – all things that Lapid had championed in his campaign.

So in the publics view – they now feel that Netanyahu can be held accountable because of his dependency upon Lapid in the next government.

Mr. Lapid's first public comments made in a press conference landed him definitively on Netanyahu's side because he rejected Labor leader Shelly Yachimovich's call for what she called an obstructionist bloc to Netanyahu forming the next government.

Lapid's party is also asking for the resumption of diplomatic negotiations, reduction in cost-of-living, reducing number of ministers in the government and a requirement to study a core curriculum in schools.

These demands are in line with the social justice movement in Israel where, for two years, Mr. Netanyahu's government has circumvented action.

Mr. Lapid, using social media heavily in his campaign, captured votes and now is poised to make the next government take action on such issues – decisively domestic.

Should Netanyahu try and skirt these issues, Lapid can bring down the government and position himself as 'the people's leader' and oust Netanyahu from the Premiership.

Brian Bush Middle East Correspondent LeSEA Broadcasting