Livni’s leap

Tzivi Livni’s decision to call a snap election ends weeks of intense and often fraught coalition negotiations which have ultimately proved fruitless and from Livni’s perspective, frustrating.

But whilst one battle is over the war is far from over. Elections matter in any country at any time. But when you are talking, not just about a country’s success, but its very survival the stakes could not be higher.

I am not going to enter into a detailed discussion here about the various elements who seek to destroy Israel. Nor am I going to enter into a debate about the minutiae of any eventual peace agreement.

I am not going to join the debate about sacrifice. I will say, however that the spiralling violence can and must not continue.

Whilst Livni has made relatively positive overtures, Netanahyu seems wedded to the manifesto he fought the 1999 election on.

A sustainable peace will never be achieved whilst every new government introduces a new peace agreement.

The destination cannot be reached quickly but the motorway is preferable to the A-road.