Middle East Economic Survey

VOL. LII

No 13

30-Mar-2009

Political Comment (30 March 2009)

Israeli prime minister designate Benjamin Netanyahu has persuaded Labour to join his otherwise right-wing coalition and now has a 66 seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, has responded coolly to President Obama's Nowruz message but has not rejected the idea of a rapprochement with Washington out of hand.

Labour Signs Up

Having already signed coalition agreements with...