Israel General Election Thread: March 17 2015

[danny]

How did Russians generally vote? They were a major factor in Labor winning 1992 and 1999, but I understand they've been right-wing in recent years.

They were clearly an important part of the Likud electorate, and obviously for Yisrael Beitenu as well.

[danny]

On election night it was estimated that turnout was 71.8%, but it has now gone passed 72.3%, so I'm not sure how many more votes there are but there can't be many more.

[danny]

Despite splitting from Yisrael Beitenu, Likud actually gained a slight share of the vote from last time.

[danny]

They might make some minor fixes but counting is basically done:

Likud: 23.4
Zionist Union: 18.67
Joint List: 10.54
Yesh Atid: 8.81
Kulanu: 7.49
Jewish Home: 6.74
Shas: 5.73
Yisrael Beitenu: 5.11
United Torah Judaism: 5.03
Meretz: 3.93
---3.25% minimum threshold-----
Yachad: 2.97
Green Leaf: 1.12

Turnout was 72.36% up from 67.77 in 2013.

Likud gets the most votes of any party in Israeli history, 985K, beating Likud 2003, which got 925K.

[danny]

Did Netanyahu already form a coalition?

Not yet, but it will happen soon.

[danny]

Apparently, the offer of Justice to JH is accompanied with reductions in the content of the porfolio (e.g., the religious courts being taken out). And, at least one other JH MK (Ariel) has told Bennett that, unless HE is given Justice instead of Shaked, he will defect, leaving the coalition without a majority.

Ariel isn't threatening just as an mk, but as the leader of Tkuma, the junior partner in the alliance with JH. If he would leave it would be with Smotrich.

[danny]

Why is there a minister of economy and a minister of finance? Was that always the case?

This is a ministry that has grown in importance over the years. Originally founded as the ministry of Industry, it later added control over trade and Labour, and was named the ministry of Industry trade and Labour. In 2013 when Bennet became the minister he changed the name to economy to make it simpler and sound more important.

[danny]

Regarding Gamliel,  she only has one ministry, which will be a continuation of the ministry for pensioners affairs originally created for the pensioners party. It has now been given extra responsibilities, and Gamliel is currently being called the minister of gender equality, minority equality, and advancement of youth and and senior citizens. This is placeholder name that will be changed to something of more reasonable length.