Netanyahu’s shaky base

TEL AVIV: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been a dominating political figure in the US this year, seemingly invincible as he hurled thunderbolts at President Obama and other adversaries. But here in Israel, not so much.

After winning a narrow election victory in March, Netanyahu formed a fragile government late Wednesday with a bare one-vote margin in parliament. Israeli analysts, left and right, are questioning whether the government can last long. Netanyahu said Thursday he had been leaving the foreign minister position vacant for Labor Party leader Isaac Herzog, in hopes of broadening his base, but Herzog quickly rejected the offer.