The American Spectator

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Binyamin Netanyahu has been given the go-ahead to form a government, making it likely that he'll become Israel's next prime minister. With Tzipi Livni determined to stay in the opposition, it's unlikely that there will be a Likud-Kadima unity government, but instead a government comprised of right-wing parties. Assuming that is how things play out, this will be an early test for the U.S.-Israel relationship during the Obama administration. President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are both committed to pushing a peace process, but Netanyahu recognizes that process as the farce that it is given that Hamas controls Gaza and Mahmoud Abbas's grip on power is tenuous and set to expire soon. Also, a Prime Minister Netanyahu would be much more likely to launch a military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, as he has repeatedly referred to the prospect of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons as the biggest threat to global security.