Time for moderation in Israel

Dallas Morning News: Israel faces a rare opportunity to revive Middle East peace talks with a unity government representing the major conservative, liberal and centrist points of view. Conservative Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu is tasked with forming a government, but his initial efforts to include the left-leaning Labor and centrist Kadima parties have been rebuffed.

If those parties are hoping for a better balance, they could wind up waiting a long time in Israel’s cold political wilderness. By balking at Netanyahu’s offer, they are pushing him toward a government of far-right extremists, which would bring Middle East peace efforts to a screeching halt.

Borderline racist

The third-place finisher in this month’s elections was the far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party of Avigdor Lieberman, a man described by various Israel observers as a borderline racist who seeks to force Israel’s Arab citizens to swear an oath of loyalty. Lieberman can bring Netanyahu close to gaining the parliamentary majority he needs to govern, but at a steep political price.

Moderate leaders are holding out in hopes of negotiating power-sharing arrangements. Kadima and Labor are playing a dangerous game of political chicken at a crucial moment in Obama administration efforts to rekindle peace talks.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will hold talks with Palestinian leaders next week, and Netanyahu says he wants to cooperate. His international credibility rests heavily on the presence of moderates in his Cabinet.

The conservatives’ strong showing in Israel’s elections shows that a wide swath of the population is fed up with rocket attacks from Gaza and the intransigent stance of Hamas. If Hamas leaders are serious about initiating contact with the Obama administration, a mere cease-fire won’t be enough.