Israelis Head to the Polls as Nation Drifts Right

One of President Obama’s top foreign policy goals is a settlement in the Middle East and a Palestinian nation. But, will Israel go along? After Gaza, Israelis reportedly feel more threatened than ever, by rocket fire from Hamas and Hezbollah and by nuclear development in Iran. Recent polls indicate that tomorrow’s election in Israel will be close. All three “mainstream” candidates are talking tough – and moving to the right. Front-runner Benjamin Netanyahu is opposed to trading occupied land for peace, but the likely kingmaker in forming a new government is a nationalist who’s compared by the left to Mussolini and Stalin. That could mean trouble for what President Obama goal of negotiations leading to a Palestinian state. Does the peace process still have a chance? Is Israel likely to strike Iran?