Israel general discussion

[SATW]

@DavidB
@ParrotGuy

Also, sexual assault allegations don't seem to hurt political parties as a whole in Israel. I think Bennett's incompetence on Amona is what will hurt The Jewish Home.

[Famous Mortimer]

How are Likud and Kulanu different on Zionism and other issues?

Both are very Zionist, maybe Kulanu is more pro-Two state solution but Likud cares more about security issues, foreign policy issues etc... then Kulanu. Kulanu's zionism reminds me of Yesh Atid's zionism...bland patriotism, pro-zionist but not on Likud's level.

Kulanu was founded as economic and social issues party. Yoav Galant and Michael Oren are the two foreign policy gurus on the list but, of course, Moshe Kahlon is the party leader and he's famous for lowering rates in the telecom industry.

Kulanu seems more moderate/secular on social issues.

Hypothetically, Kulanu might join a Labor led coalition. HYPOTHETICALLY. That makes them less Zionist. Or less nationalist at least.

[Greedo punched first]

I prefer the more moderate Kulanu. I'm a moderate conservative.

[America Needs R'hllor]

How are Likud and Kulanu different on Zionism and other issues?

Both are very Zionist, maybe Kulanu is more pro-Two state solution but Likud cares more about security issues, foreign policy issues etc... then Kulanu. Kulanu's zionism reminds me of Yesh Atid's zionism...bland patriotism, pro-zionist but not on Likud's level.

Kulanu was founded as economic and social issues party. Yoav Galant and Michael Oren are the two foreign policy gurus on the list but, of course, Moshe Kahlon is the party leader and he's famous for lowering rates in the telecom industry.

Kulanu seems more moderate/secular on social issues.

Hypothetically, Kulanu might join a Labor led coalition. HYPOTHETICALLY. That makes them less Zionist. Or less nationalist at least.

Sorry, but that's completely untrue. There is a huge difference between right wing ideology and Zionism.
Zionism is the belief in a Jewish state- the Likud is not more zionist than the Labour, Kulanu, Yesh Atid or Merez. All are zionist, just with a different ideology. Yes, the Likud became a more extreme right wing party, while Kulanu is more moderate. But it's not related in any way.
Actually, the main argument for a two-state solution is that if we annex the West Bank, we will have millions of new Arabic citizens, and the Jewish majority in Israel will be in a grave danger. Imo, the two states solution is an idea that defends zionism better than "we must take all the land".

[Hnv1]

How are Likud and Kulanu different on Zionism and other issues?

That's not a good way to understand party lines in Israel all parties part for the orthodox and the Arabs are zionists parties (and the Haredi are de facto Zionist).

Kulano is soft Likud on almost everything, what ever position Likud takes Kulano will be an inch to the left.

Individual MKs vary quite substantively there. Azaria would sit comfortably in Labour, Polkman could fit in YA (very economic liberal), Oren is a likudnik through and through, Galant is a bland ex general, and all the rest can't be classed as similar as well. Yet as a party they're fairly consistent

[America Needs R'hllor]

How are Likud and Kulanu different on Zionism and other issues?

That's not a good way to understand party lines in Israel all parties part for the orthodox and the Arabs are zionists parties (and the Haredi are de facto Zionist).

Kulano is soft Likud on almost everything, what ever position Likud takes Kulano will be an inch to the left.

Individual MKs vary quite substantively there. Azaria would sit comfortably in Labour, Polkman could fit in YA (very economic liberal), Oren is a likudnik through and through, Galant is a bland ex general, and all the rest can't be classed as similar as well. Yet as a party they're fairly consistent

Yeah, basically the centrist parties are MKs from different parts of the political spectrum recruited by a popular central figure.

[Hnv1]

Amir Peretz announced he is running for Labour leadership (for the fourth time) this June. Other possible contenders as Margarit, Shelly, and Bar Lev were so far silent

[America Needs R'hllor]

Amir Peretz announced he is running for Labour leadership (for the fourth time) this June. Other possible contenders as Margarit, Shelly, and Bar Lev were so far silent

As a Labour member, not voting for him. Currently leaning towards Margalit, even if for pure change of attitude. Perez had many chances already, and Herzog is absolutely horrible.

[Hnv1]

Amazing as Netanyahu received his biggest policy blow (even bigger than the Iran deal) and Labour can't even capitalize on that. I'm surprised Labour MKs aren't in full revolt already, this behavior is perplexing

[America Needs R'hllor]

Amazing as Netanyahu received his biggest policy blow (even bigger than the Iran deal) and Labour can't even capitalize on that. I'm surprised Labour MKs aren't in full revolt already, this behavior is perplexing

Herzog is a total mess as an opposition leader, gib primaries pls. Some Labour MKs are reacting well, like Shapir and Michaeli, but they can't really act on it like Herzog. Not even talking about Lapid.

[Hnv1]

Amazing as Netanyahu received his biggest policy blow (even bigger than the Iran deal) and Labour can't even capitalize on that. I'm surprised Labour MKs aren't in full revolt already, this behavior is perplexing

Herzog is a total mess as an opposition leader, gib primaries pls. Some Labour MKs are reacting well, like Shapir and Michaeli, but they can't really act on it like Herzog. Not even talking about Lapid.

I was referring to acting against Herzog, this lull is unlikely to Labour party nature.

[America Needs R'hllor]

Netanyahu's legal problems appear to be getting worse and worse. Elections soon?

[Hnv1]

Avi Gabai, former minister from Kulanu joins Labour. He has a pretty good public image after dueling it out with Bibi over the 'gas deal' and his last week channel 2 interview. But still too inexperienced to challenge the leadership.

In his statement he also took a shot at Kachlon and Lapid questioning the legitimacy of a chairman omnipotence partiesץ

Oren and Galant looked like they were planning for their primaries in Likud this week.  

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Wasn't Ya'alon supposed to form a party by now?

[America Needs R'hllor]

Wasn't Ya'alon supposed to form a party by now?

It's not a sure thing. Also, there's no election coming... Yet.

As for Avi Gabai, I like him. Will probably vote for him in the primaries for the slate of candidates.

[Hnv1]

Wasn't Ya'alon supposed to form a party by now?

A. no elections in near sight
B. no funding.
C. quite a dreary character, he would not go for such a move by himself.

[DavidB.]

2016 was a bad year but at least the kid torturer left through the backdoor.

[Hnv1]

Poll from tonight (grain of salt)
YA 27
Likud 23
JH 12
JAL 12
Lieberman 10
ZU 8 (LOL)
Shas 8
Kachlon 7
UTJ 7
Meretz 6

[America Needs R'hllor]

Poll from tonight (grain of salt)
YA 27
Likud 23
JH 12
JAL 12
Lieberman 10
ZU 8 (LOL)
Shas 8
Kachlon 7
UTJ 7
Meretz 6

Omg

[DavidB.]

Poll from tonight (grain of salt)
YA 27
Likud 23
JH 12
JAL 12
Lieberman 10
ZU 8 (LOL)
Shas 8
Kachlon 7
UTJ 7
Meretz 6

Coalition at 67, exactly what they got in the 2015 election.

Main voter movement on the "center/left" is obviously ZU -> YA, on the right it's Likud -> JH (including many people who were JH supporters in the first place but cast a tactical Likud vote in 2015) and Likud -> YB (perhaps also a similar effect as with JH, with Russians who voted Likud in 2015 for partly tactical reasons + the last-minute anti-Arab stuff now going back to YB).

Main surprise for me is that Kahlon hasn't completely collapsed yet. Shas is also doing remarkably well.

[windjammer]

Is it possible that the guy from Jewish Home becomes PM?

[DavidB.]

Is it possible that the guy from Jewish Home becomes PM?

Nah, either Netanyahu or the next Likud leader will be PM.

[Hnv1]

Bibi is suspected of receiving inappropriate "gift" from multi-millionaire donors. A second corruption charge (and one of greater weight if the rumours be taken at face value) is about to be revealed soon. An indictment means he has to resign.

Can you smell it? it's election time

[DavidB.]

According to Knessetjeremy:

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I agree with points 2 and 3 (though 3 is hardly relevant) and don't know enough to say anything about 4. But 1 is important: a new Likud leader could theoretically simply replace Bibi is he's indicted. Why would that not happen, hnv1? None of the coalition parties seem truly eager to trigger a snap election (though that may change if Bibi has to go, obviously, but that would be a gamble!). And who do you think would be most likely to replace Bibi?

[Mike88]

Will a hypothetical new Likud leader and PM ease the current tension between USA-Israel-UN or will it suffer no change?