Netanyahu announces early elections
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced early elections on Tuesday. Netanyahu said in a televised statement he had reached the conclusion that his coalition government would not be able to agree on a national budget, adding that he has "therefore decided, for the benefit of Israel, to hold elections now and as quickly as possible." According to estimates, the elections will be held in the end of January or the beginning of February.....
.....Netanyahu held meetings last week with the heads of the other coalition parties to consider whether to step up efforts to pass the 2013 budget or move up the elections. He met with officials including Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz of his Likud party and Interior Minister Eli Yishai, who heads the ultra-Orthodox Shas party.
The prospect of early elections arose after Yishai said Shas would not support wide-ranging budget cuts, particularly cuts to benefits for the elderly, single-parent families and the poor.Current Polls in Israel show the PM's party / Coalition winning handily:
Globes Poll conducted by Smith. If elections held today (expressed in Knesset seats)
Current Knesset seats in [brackets].
28 [27] Likud
19 [08] Labor
16 [15] Yisrael Beitenu
11 [---] Yesh Atid
10 [11] Shas
09 [07] National Union/Jewish Home
06 [05] Yahadut Hatorah/UTJ
04 [28] Kadima
04 [03] Meretz
02 [05] Independence
11 [11] Hadash, Ra’am-Ta’al and Balad
69 [65] Right
51 [55] Center-Left
Poll conducted 23 September 2012 by Dialogue of a
representative sample of 502 adults Israelis with a statistical error of +/- 4.2%. Poll was published by Haaretz on 28 September 2012.
If elections held today (expressed in Knesset seats)
Current Knesset seats in [brackets].
28 [27] Likud
20 [08] Labor
14 [15] Yisrael Beitenu
11 [11] Shas
08 [---] Yesh Atid
08 [28] Kadima
07 [05] Yahadut Hatorah/UTJ
06 [07] National Union/Jewish Home
05 [03] Meretz
02 [05] Independence
11 [11] Hadash, Ra’am-Ta’al and Balad
66 [65] Right
54 [55] Center-Left
Israel Radio Poll by Smith from 14 Sep 2012
If elections were held today who would you vote for?
Current Knesset seats in [brackets]Now, anything can happen dependent on a number of factors. Right now, when I talk to my Israeli friends, security is a major factor on their minds. The recent penetration of a drone (most likely from Hizbollah) that was shot down after 20 mins., the movement of U.S. Patriot Batteries to the Haifa area, and 55 rockets landing in Israel shot from Gaza are a big factor in discussions.
28 [27] Likud
19 [08] Labor
15 [15] Yisrael Beitenu
11 [---] Yesh Atid
10 [11] Shas
06 [05] Yahadut Hatorah/UTJ
05 [03] Jewish Home
05 [28] Kadima
04 [03] Meretz
03 [04] National Union
03 [05] Independence
11 [11] Hadash, Ra’am-Ta’al and Balad
67 [65] Right
53 [55] Center-Left
ALSO, the budget, and the Likud's plans to privatize more and more of the country opening it for economic piracy that comes with privatization.
Don't forget that finally there is the U.S. election. No one knows what will happen but one concern the PM has is what he perceives as "payback" should the President be re-elected. However, given the President's strong friendship with Israel, I don't see that really being an issue.
Anyway... Let the speculation begin.
Taken together, left wing anti-Zionists (Hadash, Balal, etc.) and religious anti-Zionists (United Torah Judaism) could have 18 seats, according to these polls. That's pretty disappointing.
ReplyDeleteI am usually a huge fan of proportional representation, but maybe Israel needs to get rid of it, or modify it. These extremist fucknuts should not be in the Knesset.
But it is interesting that Likud + Labor + YB + Independence would be a secular majority of ~62 seats. How about a secular unity government that finally tackles the Haredi military and economic problem?
Well don't forget National Union when you are talking "fucknuts" - Those guys are straight out the Kahane playbook.
DeleteNo way that Labor, Y.A. go into government with Y.B. and I don't think there is a chance that Labor or Kadima would go with Likud at this point. They are way too different. That would be like the Dems. and Republicans joining into a unity government here.... Well let me say that unless there is a major war...
As for Atz'maout... Barak will go wherever he gets to be DM. If Netanyahu keeps him in that position, Independence will be all in for the coalition. Barak cares about one thing first and foremost... Ehud Barak. HOWEVER, I think if he had a choice he would rather be DM in a Labor Gov't.
As for Lapid and Yesh Atid.... I can't see him holding out particularly if he got a minor cabinet post like Minister of Education (something he has said he wants) BUT... that would mean Gideon Sa'ar gets knocked so.....
Barak should be DM because he is the most decorated soldier in Israel's history. He's just a natural fit for it.
DeleteNational Union might be fucknuts, but at least they are not running for the parliament of a state they believe shouldn't exist. That is a whole other level of fucknuttery.
I think I agree on Barak... He seems to be pretty good at his job. He was not a great PM But seems to do a better job as DM.
ReplyDeleteAs for the N.U. - I totally disagree. They are fascists plain and simple. People like Hadash at least believe in a democracy even if they are misguided. Remember, it was Kach and that group that want to toss the Arabs out completely. Even from their homes on the West Bank and for no other reason then they are Arabs. How does that keep Israel as the State anyone ever envisioned? It doesn't, they represent the worst in our polity and they are no different from those that want to do this to us.
At some point you have to be different from that which you fight against.
Just my take.