It is true that the Left/liberal American critics of Israel (those particularly who tend to literally express hatred of Netanyahu) would rather Israel move to the Left to facilitate maximal concessions to what they perceive as moderate Palestinian leadership. What columnist Shmuel Rosner implies, however, is that at least 58% of Israelis don't want to go there, for reasons involving Israeli security.
Rosner says that it is inaccurate, in Israeli terms, to paint the Israeli electorate as right-wing and at the same time over-estimate the constituency of the Israeli left. Most Israelis are centrists, whose political will is reflected in the current national-unity government. //Mark Finkelstein
[Based on its most recent poll, discussed by Rosner in his column, ]the [left-liberal US] pollsters have concluded that in Israel 43% belong to the "right" and 20% to the "left". I think their way of breaking down the numbers does not reflect Israeli reality.
In the US, where there are only two parties, one has to be on the right, the left, of in the center - namely, the independent voter. But a parliamentary system like the one Israel has requires a more nuanced understanding of the numbers at hand.
I'd argue that all those on the "somewhat right" (22%), "center" (26%), and "somewhat left" (10%) should be counted as supporters of the Israeli broad consensus.
That is 58% of all Israelis - Arabs included - belonging to camps that can easily join a broader coalition of national unity, not unlike the one Israel now has.
It really leaves an inch more than 20% on the "right" and less than 10% on the "left".
All others, being most Labor, Likud, Kadima and Israel Beiteinu voters agree more than they disagree.
