Israeli Prime Minister and Chairman of the Likud party Benjamin Netanyahu waves to the crowd during the Likud party's central convention on October 29, 2012 in the Mediterranean coastal city of Tel Aviv. The convention approved Netanyahu's proposal to merge the Likud party with Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party in the upcoming January 22 national elections. AFP PHOTO/MENAHEM KAHANA