Israeli General Election 2013

[Hnv1]

Results are in, and the the more left wing of the Likud MK's are out, while Feiglin is in. of the Kadima refugees, only Hanegbi made it. Of the ministers, Meridor, Eitan, Begin and Dichter are out.

One of the big stories was the large union influence on the vote, and everyone was trying to get on the lists of the unions, and specifically the aeronautics workers union, led by MK Katz, and their thousands of votes.

They are not the more left wing (part for Meridor and I would use the term moderate) as Begin can probably teach all those abrupt jokers like Regev, Dannon and the rest a lesson about what the Israeli Right is.

they are just more right is the classic term, liberal (not the American term), pro civil rights and respective toward the law and courts.

The Likud members had picked a nationalist-extremist line-up for this election, Begin senior would have probably been left out in today's Likud.

The situation 4 years from now would be interesting as Sa'ar, Ya'alon, and Lieberman would mosh up to be the next Likud leaders

[danny]

Results are in, and the the more left wing of the Likud MK's are out, while Feiglin is in. of the Kadima refugees, only Hanegbi made it. Of the ministers, Meridor, Eitan, Begin and Dichter are out.

One of the big stories was the large union influence on the vote, and everyone was trying to get on the lists of the unions, and specifically the aeronautics workers union, led by MK Katz, and their thousands of votes.

They are not the more left wing (part for Meridor and I would use the term moderate) as Begin can probably teach all those abrupt jokers like Regev, Dannon and the rest a lesson about what the Israeli Right is.

they are just more right is the classic term, liberal (not the American term), pro civil rights and respective toward the law and courts.

The Likud members had picked a nationalist-extremist line-up for this election, Begin senior would have probably been left out in today's Likud.

The situation 4 years from now would be interesting as Sa'ar, Ya'alon, and Lieberman would mosh up to be the next Likud leaders

I use the term "more left wing" as a relative term, in the same way Zehava Gal-on is to the right of Dov Khenin, and Naftali Bennet is to the left of Michael Ben-Ari.

As for Benny Begin, he has definitely changed to the left, the Begin of the 90's would not have agreed to the settlement freeze. Begin was expected to represent the a strong right winger and supporter of the settlements in when he was elected in 2009 in a high spot. He didn't deliver on that, and was voted out

[Hnv1]

Results are in, and the the more left wing of the Likud MK's are out, while Feiglin is in. of the Kadima refugees, only Hanegbi made it. Of the ministers, Meridor, Eitan, Begin and Dichter are out.

One of the big stories was the large union influence on the vote, and everyone was trying to get on the lists of the unions, and specifically the aeronautics workers union, led by MK Katz, and their thousands of votes.

They are not the more left wing (part for Meridor and I would use the term moderate) as Begin can probably teach all those abrupt jokers like Regev, Dannon and the rest a lesson about what the Israeli Right is.

they are just more right is the classic term, liberal (not the American term), pro civil rights and respective toward the law and courts.

The Likud members had picked a nationalist-extremist line-up for this election, Begin senior would have probably been left out in today's Likud.

The situation 4 years from now would be interesting as Sa'ar, Ya'alon, and Lieberman would mosh up to be the next Likud leaders

I use the term "more left wing" as a relative term, in the same way Zehava Gal-on is to the right of Dov Khenin, and Naftali Bennet is to the left of Michael Ben-Ari.

As for Benny Begin, he has definitely changed to the left, the Begin of the 90's would not have agreed to the settlement freeze. Begin was expected to represent the a strong right winger and supporter of the settlements in when he was elected in 2009 in a high spot. He didn't deliver on that, and was voted out

If by failing to deliver you mean not opposing a peremptory verdict by the supreme court then anyone who advocated ignoring it is abolishing democracy in the way we know it, and that Begin can not agree to.

The Begin of the 90s same as the Begin of present days would both oppose a construction freeze directed by the government, a court rulling is quite different.

Labour primaries tomorrow, their 8 MKs will probably all get in but the question is who of the newcommers is going to stay outside (estimating labour will not pass the 22 MK bar)

[danny]

If by failing to deliver you mean not opposing a peremptory verdict by the supreme court then anyone who advocated ignoring it is abolishing democracy in the way we know it, and that Begin can not agree to.

The Begin of the 90s same as the Begin of present days would both oppose a construction freeze directed by the government, a court rulling is quite different.

I wasn't talking about a court imposed freeze but about the Bibi imposed freeze.

[danny]

The latest poll:

Likud Beitenu: 39
Labour: 18
Shas: 10
JH-NU: 10
Yesh Atid: 9
The Movement: 6
UTJ: 5
Meretz: 5
Am Shalem: 4
Hadash: 4
RAAM-TAAL: 4
Balad: 3
Otzma Leisrael: 3

[Hnv1]

Likud Beitenu: 39
Labour: 18
Shas: 10
JH-NU: 10
Yesh Atid: 9
The Movement: 6
UTJ: 5
Meretz: 5
Am Shalem: 4
Hadash: 4
RAAM-TAAL: 4
Balad: 3
Otzma Leisrael: 3

Likud carries on with a solid lead (yet not as strong it would have expected), Livni robbs Labour and Yesh Atid but for now it seems Meretz solidify around 5-6 mandates. Eldad for now passes the bar but I'm pretty sure that on election most of his now supporters would vote JH

[Hnv1]

Results are in from the Labour primaries:
1. Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich
2. MK Herzog - son of former President Herzog
3. MK Amir Peretz - former chairman and MoD
4. MK Eitan Cabel
5. Meirav Michaeli - journalist and the new left marker for the party, against Shelly's will
6. Binyamin Ben-Eliezer - former chairman, MoD, party veteran and Brig. Gen. in the IDF
7. Hilik Bar- Labour CEO
8. Omer Bar-Lev - Son of former IDF CoGS, COL in reserve and former CO Sayeret Matkal
9. Stav Shafir - the youngster from the leaders of July 2011 protests
10. MK Avishay Braverman
11. Arel Margalit
12. Itzik Shmoli - head of the Student's Union and one of the leaders of July 2011
13. Miki Rosenthal - journalist, famous for his anti-corruption anti-centralization positions
14. Michal Biran - head of the Young Labour
15. MK Nahman Shai - defected from Kadima
16. Moshe Mizrachi - Maj. Gen. of the Israeli Police, anti-corruption
17. Danny Atar
18. MK Raleb Majadele - minorities rep.
19. Nadia Hilo
20. MK Nino Abesadze - defected from Kadima
21. Prof. Yossi Yona - 'spiritual leader' for the July 2011 protests
22. MK Daniel Ben-Simon - rather disappointing
23-30 nothing of much interest and by most positive polls improbable anyway

Personally I'm not a part from Labour for years now but this is a great list (despite Shelly's attempts to put in her people) fairly moderate but solid. n.b. Shelly's attempt to exclude Michaeli failed but Yariv Offenheimer the head of Peace Now did not make it in; Peretz's recovery is impressive and generally speaking Labour voters can take pride in their list compared to what Likud would be fielding

[danny]

Notable among those that failed to enter, are Yariv Oppenheimer, the head of "peace now"(27) and Noam Shalit, father of Gilad Shait (39).

[danny]

There has been a flood of polls in the last day.

Yediot Ahronot:

Likud Beitenu: 37
Labour: 19
Shas: 11
JH-NU: 10
The Movement: 9
Yesh Atid: 9
UTJ: 5
Meretz: 5
RAAM-TAAL: 4
Hadash: 4
Balad: 3
Otzma Leisrael: 2
Am Shalem: 2

Yisrael Hayom:

Likud Beitenu: 39
Labour: 20
Shas: 11
JH-NU: 10
Yesh Atid: 10
The Movement: 7
UTJ: 5
Meretz: 4
RAAM-TAAL: 4
Hadash: 3
Balad: 3
Kadima: 2
Am Shalem: 2

Globes:

Likud Beitenu: 37
Labour: 20
Shas: 11
JH-NU: 11
Yesh Atid: 10
The Movement: 6
UTJ: 6
Meretz: 5
Am Shalem: 3
"Arab parties": 11

Mishal Cham (a channel 2 program):

Likud Beitenu: 38
Labour: 18
Shas: 14
JH-NU: 9
The Movement: 9
UTJ: 6
Yesh Atid: 5
Am Shalem: 4
Meretz: 3
Kadima: 2
"Arab parties": 10

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

So looks like despite all the hype about how the Gaza war would cost Netanyahu, there is virtually no chance he will not win another term. Good.

[danny]

So looks like despite all the hype about how the Gaza war would cost Netanyahu, there is virtually no chance he will not win another term. Good.

The thing is, that if you think Bibi was too soft during the war, but are not religious, you don't have much of an alternative. If Likud didn't merge with YB, and Lieberman was attacking Bibi's handling of the war, then Bibi would have been in more trouble.

[Stand With Israel. Crush Hamas]

So looks like despite all the hype about how the Gaza war would cost Netanyahu, there is virtually no chance he will not win another term. Good.

The thing is, that if you think Bibi was too soft during the war, but are not religious, you don't have much of an alternative. If Likud didn't merge with YB, and Lieberman was attacking Bibi's handling of the war, then Bibi would have been in more trouble.

Yep. The YB merger may have been one of the savviest political moves of his career.

[Vosem]

So looks like despite all the hype about how the Gaza war would cost Netanyahu, there is virtually no chance he will not win another term. Good.

The thing is, that if you think Bibi was too soft during the war, but are not religious, you don't have much of an alternative. If Likud didn't merge with YB, and Lieberman was attacking Bibi's handling of the war, then Bibi would have been in more trouble.

Yep. The YB merger may have been one of the savviest political moves of his career.

I think the merger had more to do with Evet's ambitions than Netanyahu's -- as leader of Likud sometime in the future, he could become PM; as leader of YB he cannot...

[danny]

A poll was taken of first time voters only (people who were too young to vote in the last elections):

On the question of whether the consider themselves right/left:

49% right
20% centre leaning right
9% centre leaning left
5% left

Preference for prime minister:

Netanyahu: 32%
Bennet: 11%
Livni: 11%

Will you vote in the upcoming elections?

Definite yes: 61%
Probably yes: 26%
Probably no: 6%
Definitely no: 1%
Don't know: 6%

Knesset seats:

Likud Beitenu: 39
Labour: 17
JH-NU: 15
Yesh Atid: 11
Shas: 10
UTJ: 4
Otzma Leisrael: 4
Hadash: 4
The Movement: 3
The Green Movement: 3
Meretz: 3
RAAM-TAAL: 3
Am Shalem: 2
Balad: 2

[danny]

Also, MK Taleb el-Sana will leave RAAM-TAAL and run with his own party.

[Kitteh]

A poll was taken of first time voters only (people who were too young to vote in the last elections):

On the question of whether the consider themselves right/left:

49% right
20% centre leaning right
9% centre leaning left
5% left

[danny]

Also, MK Taleb el-Sana will leave RAAM-TAAL and run with his own party.

Apparently he changed his mind despite being pushed down to number 5 on the RAAM-TAAL list.

[Leftbehind]

A poll was taken of first time voters only (people who were too young to vote in the last elections):

On the question of whether the consider themselves right/left:

49% right
20% centre leaning right
9% centre leaning left
5% left

[image deleted]

Edit: On reflection, whilst completely agreeing with the emotion expressed, I can't in good conscience propagate images of such a monstrous tosser.

[Kitteh]

A poll was taken of first time voters only (people who were too young to vote in the last elections):

On the question of whether the consider themselves right/left:

49% right
20% centre leaning right
9% centre leaning left
5% left

[image deleted]

Edit: On reflection, whilst completely agreeing with the emotion expressed, I can't in good conscience propagate images of such a monstrous tosser.

You're right. This better?

[Leftbehind]

Much!

[Vosem]

Lieberman has announced his list. Danny Ayalon, Anastasia Michaeli, and Stas Misezhnikov have all been voted off the island. New in town -- in fact, taking second place on the list -- is Yair Shamir, a prominent businessman and son of former Likudnik Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir.

[Hnv1]

Amir Peretz in a shock move decides to leave Labour and join Livni, Peretz was leader of the more left section of the party (same as Mitzna who left a week ago) his decision to join Livni was Shelly's refusal to discuss the conflict and the occupation in her campaign while deserting the Labour's traditional role.

good luck to him would love to have seen him with other good MKs from Labour join Meretz
but that is probably too much to ask

[danny]

The musical chairs in this election is amusing as ever. This case is especially amusing as Peretz ran in 2006 focusing on economic issues, and is now leaving the party because the new leader is doing the same.

This adds to the irony of Livni using the "Mofaz law" (called that way as it was designed to help Mofaz leave the Livni led Kadima) to get public funding instead of Kadima.

[danny]

Also this election will now have two former leaders of the Labour party running in Livni's party (Mitzna and Peretz). That is on top of two other former leaders who have left their party recently (Barak and Peres).

[Hnv1]

Due to the polarization and demographics in Israel, Peretz is probably one the very few individuals on the left that are able to swing so safric votes from the right. but again, with some many parties there is simply no way Likud are not going to win.

I believe there is a need for a strong opposition that will able to inherit the next Likud government which I predict is going to crumble before 2017