The unexpected formation of a national unity government in Israel is covered in all of today’s UK media. Coverage focuses on the effect this will have on Israel’s policy on Iran. The Independent feels this will give Prime Minister Netanyahu “a more commanding mandate” and therefore increases the possibility of Israeli unilateral action against Iran. However the Times notes that the addition of “less hawkish” Mofaz will “temper calls for strike on Iran.” In addition, the Times runs a leader article suggesting this new national unity government could at last allow the PM the opportunity to initiate diplomatic moves now he is no longer beholden to his right winger partners. The Times also includes a third article on the unity deal analysing the impact on Israel-US relations. The Guardian runs an op-ed by Israel’s Ambassador to the UK Daniel Taub where he writes that “discriminating against Israelis in the name of the Palestinian cause hurts any progressive agenda”. Online, the BBC reports one of the Palestinian hunger strikers has been transferred to an Israeli civilian medical facility.

The Israeli media is dominated by the formation of the national unity government with large number of commentators weighing in to assess the winners and losers in the move. Ma’ariv considers Prime Minister Netanyahu as the clear winner, now holding an enormous parliamentary majority of 94 seats out of 120. Kadima Chairman Mofaz is also seen as winning as he avoided the predicted crashing defeat if the early elections would have taken place. Former journalist Yair Lapid, Chairman of the Yesh Atid (‘There is a Future’) party, who will now have to wait an extra year on the sidelines is considered one of the big losers. Foreign Minister Lieberman is also considered a loser as he is no longer the senior partner in the government and will have less ability to control the agenda. Yediot Ahronot notes Defence Minister Barak is also a winner in this deal as he can now remain in his current position for another year. Ma’ariv further speculates that in the next election a “super party” could be established including the centrist parts of the Likud alongside Kadima and Barak’s Independence faction. All the papers also continue the coverage of the illegal Ulpana neighbourhood in Bet El, which is set to be demolished in the coming weeks. This may be the first major test of the new coalition. All papers also cover the demonstration of around 1,000 people, organised by left wing groups involved in last summer’s social protest, against the agreement. They were briefly joined by former Kadima leader Tzipi Livni.