While the election approaches in America, Israel is in the midst of its own democratic drama. It seems that the Labor Party is threatening to bolt the national unity coalition that Prime Minister Sharon put together early in 2001. The issue that has brought matters to a head is neither the approach of the Gulf War nor the war with the Palestinian Arabs but rather a budget dispute, in which the Labor Party seeks to have money for settlements diverted to its subsidies and welfare related matters. There are reports that this stems from the desire of the defense minister, Benjamin Ben Eliezer of the Labor Party, to bolster his own position in the advance of the primaries.

The result, though, could be to force Mr. Sharon to establish his government on the basis of a narrow coalition. According to a report in Israel’s Ha’aretz newspaper, the prime minister has told his Likud Party faction that he prefers a narrow government over early elections. Ha’aretz also reported that Mr. Sharon told Likud Knesset members that he won’t hesitate to call for early elections if he fails to create the narrow coalition. Mr. Sharon is also expressing confidence that he could win such an election.

As premier, Mr. Sharon has certainly surprised his critics with the grace and inclusiveness with which he has conducted his government, under extraordinary military and diplomatic pressure. The erstwhile general that so many like to criticize for being an extremist has made it a central political principal to govern under the national unity structure. It has had its share of frustrations, but it is well to remember that it is the classic war-fighting formulation in Israel’s politics. And as we Americans prepare for the prospect of going to war ourselves in the Middle East, such unity as Israel has managed to display strikes us as an admirable example.