"In light of the scope of the challenges Israel faces – Iran, terrorism, the economic crisis and unemployment – a broad unity government is a must," Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday evening.

Color me confused, but let's examine that statement in context.

Iran. The Likud-led majority coalition of Right-wing partners stand behind whatever actions Bibi will decide. So why does he need Kadima or Labor? As a fig leaf? To justify himself to the world? Does Bibi really think that Kadima or Barak would be so short-sighted or stupid to attack him in the world press as he defends Israel against a nuclear Iran?

Terrorism: The Likud-led majority coalition of Right-wing partners stand behind whatever action Bibi will decide to take to definitively fight terrorism. So why does he need Kadima or Labor? As a fig leaf? To justify himself to the world? To prevent him from taking decisive action against terrorism? So what if Kadima or Barak will be so short-sighted or stupid to attack him in the world press as he defends Israel against terrorism?

The Economic Crisis: The Likud-led majority coalition of Right-wing partners stand behind with whatever action Bibi will decide to get us out of the recession, with minor modifications so as not to hurt the poorest sectors that got beaten up badly last time by his corrections. So why does he need Kadima or Labor? As a fig leaf?

The socialist Labor party could hardly agree to Bibi's capitalist reforms, and we already know that Kadima supports Bibi's plan (even from the opposition) as they adopted it for themselves. That would look rather hypocritical to attack it when its built into their party's platform.

Unemployment: The Likud-led majority coalition of Right-wing partners stand behind with whatever action Bibi will decide to take to reduce unemployment. So why does he need Kadima or Labor?

A broad unity government is a must: Why?

The Likud-led majority coalition of Right-wing partners stand behind with whatever action Bibi will decide to take.

His natural partners support him. Bibi has a clear Knesset and popular majority.

The Left wing parties are in a binary relationship with Bibi, either they support the Likud's positions as it is their same exact position, or they entirely oppose them and there is no middle ground.

In fact, the only logical reasons for a broad unity government are as follows:

1) The assumption that without it, the opposition might traitorously go overseas for support in blocking Bibi, never having heard that politics stops at the border (something the far Left never learned). And if that's the case, can you really trust them in your coalition either, imagine the damage they will do from the inside (I know, "...keep your enemies closer", but there is a limit).

2) Bibi really is afraid to boldly lead the country, and is looking for Kadima and Labor to provide him with a fig leaf.

3) Bibi really has gone Left, and needs/wants Kadima/Labor to pull him over the edge, as opposed to the Right Wing parties which will keep him balanced and fulfilling the will of the voters.

4) Bibi plans to do something that will seriously annoy the Likud's natural partners (and not part of the Likud's platform), and needs a safety net.

5) Bibi is afraid of what the Left will say when he does what he has won the mandate to do.

None of these explanations are particularly comforting.