Kadima Leads, but Election Fails to Deliver "Mandate"

With 90% of the vote reporting, it looks like Kadima - the centrist party of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni - would come away with the most seats in today's parliamentary election in Israel. Close behind (by one seat) is the right wing party Likud, led by former PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Pundits predict that forming a coalition government will prove to be a nightmare; both Livni and Netanyahu claimed the right to form a government in their victory speeches.

Despite the ambiguous electoral outcome, it is obvious that Livni is the only acceptable outcome for the U.S. As a pro-peace candidate, Livni recognizes there is no military solution to the Palestine conflict. On the other hand, Netanyahu - and his former aid Avigdor Lieberman who heads the third place party Beitenu - is too obtuse to recognize this fact and instead promises a hard-lined approach (i.e. emphasis on military ops) against Hamas. Simply put, Livni represents a chance for a long-term solution while Netanyahu represents more of the same.

If Israel continues on its current path, I distinctly hope the United States stops offering its unconditional support in order to send a clear message: Israel may be the only democracy in the Middle East, but this fact does not mean it can do no wrong. Israel must accept the blame it deserves, atone for its sins, and work on forging a new relationship with Palestine. At the very least, Washington must pressure Israel to behave as the adult. The time has come to set aside childish things.