As in India, a centre-left grand old party dominated politics till 1977; Labor-led ruling coalitions were the norm till centre-right Likud formed the government that year. The second departure came in November 2005 when Ariel Sharon broke with Likud to form centrist Kadima, which won the March 2006 elections — its first — to lead a new coalition.

The outgoing Knesset has 18 parties with Kadima and Labor leading the incumbent executive. Till date, most opinion polls show Binyamin Netanyahu’s Likud has a clear lead over Kadima with Labor a poor third. Twelve days is a longer time for a 120-member legislature in a small country than for one with 545 in a large state. But in that other land of miracles, Likud’s return at the head of a new coalition, forged and preserved as laboriously as always, is almost certain. The re-ignition of conflict along the Gaza border this week can only help Likud.

sudeep.paul@expressindia.com