And without a lessening of hostility across the world's most heavily fortified border, efforts to negotiate a peace treaty for the peninsula and to bribe North Korea into giving up its nuclear weapons ambitions may come to naught.

ECONOMIST: It��s good for the Koreas to talk

Even Mr Netanyahu, if he succeeds in forming a government, is likely to respond favourably to American suggestions that he continue the efforts of his predecessor, Ehud Olmert of the Kadima party, led now by Ms Livni, to negotiate a deal with Syria, whereby Israel would give up the Golan Heights in return for a peace treaty similar to those already signed with Jordan and Egypt.

ECONOMIST: America and Israel