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Israeli Election Thread

gtc

Philosopher
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Feb 23, 2005
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I want to start this thread to see some discussion of the election. Not just opinions, election issues and results, but also people's voting experiences etc.

Any takers?
 
Exit Polls are one thing, Electoral Returns are another, but that aside ... what about those Pensioners? 6-8 seats by Haaretz reckoning. Kudos.
 
Whoa! Likud got spanked! :yahoo

I would've liked Kadima to take it in the shorts, too, but at least that flaming gasbag Netanyahu's out of the game.
 
Cleon said:
Whoa! Likud got spanked! :yahoo
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Not particularly meaningful in the grand tapestry, but still so very satisfying.

I would've liked Kadima to take it in the shorts, too, but at least that flaming gasbag Netanyahu's out of the game.
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Netanyahu is an empty suit - his wife probably chose the suit - trading on a family name. He is, as of tonight, determined - nay, resolved - to stay the course as chief salary-earner of the Likud (who they?) while his tell-all memoirs are ghosted.
 
m_midgam_tv_3.jpg


Ynet is saying:

Kadima: 30 seats
Labor: 21 seats
Israel Our Home: 14 seats
Shas: 12 seats
Likud: 10 seats
National Union – NRP: 9 seats
United Torah Judaism: 6 seats
Pensioners' party: 6 seats
Meretz: 5 seats
Arab parties: 7 seats
Green party on verge of reaching threshold - (sorry Web)

Meanwhile on the other side of the tracks....

Mar. 28, 2006 19:58

To the sounds of Allahu Akbar [God is greatest], the new Hamas cabinet on Tuesday won the confidence of the Palestinian Legislative Council after a two-day session that was held here and in Gaza City through video conference.

The cabinet, headed by Ismail Haniyeh, was ratified by a majority of 71 votes. Thirty-six legislators, all members of Fatah, voted against the cabinet, and another two abstained. Altogether, 109 out of 132 PLC members took part in the vote.

Immediately after the vote, several Hamas legislators began shouting the famous Islamic battle cry of Allahu Akbar, saying this was an historical moment for the Palestinians.

Holding high a copy of the Koran, legislator Hamed Bitawi shouted: "The Koran is our constitution, Mohammed is our prophet, jihad [holy war] is our path and dying for the sake of Allah is our biggest wish." His remark drew a thunderous applause from all his Hamas colleagues.
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Other than a predicted Kadima victory, I don't know enough to comment. Is anyone aware of an election primer written in English?
 
Pensioners 6-8 seats. These are, one assumes, mostly people that were around at the Foundation and don't feel that the mainstream parties of today's Israel represent or even understand them. Is this the democracy they fought for? The nation their parents dreamed of? I don't think so.

Israeli parties coalesce around individuals. Charisma counts for far more than ideology. Ben Gurion (and his Leninist cronies) made sure that was reflected in the Basic Law that sort of defines the Knesset and its powers.

Olmert, the Mouth of Sharon as he's otherwise known, intends to define and impose the borders of Israel within the next four years. What's so crucial about those four years given that the Foundation was declared almost 60 years ago? Has none of the groundwork been done? How hard can it be to actually define a nation's borders?

If it's an artificial nation it's bound to be harder than a natural one, but 60 years and still no Constitution? Let alone borders.
 
Capel,

What do you make of Hamed Bitawi's comments?

Mycroft,

The Jerusalem Post had a good round up on their website yesterday.
 
Bummer

In a nation with so many other critical issues and social pressures, the lack of a massive constituency for the 'marijuana party' is hardly surprising. Still, they got a lot of votes!

"Green Leaf chairman Boaz Wachtel has resigned after his party fails to enter Knesset." --- Ha'aretz election-night report.
 
Pensioners 6-8 seats. These are, one assumes, mostly people that were around at the Foundation and don't feel that the mainstream parties of today's Israel represent or even understand them. Is this the democracy they fought for? The nation their parents dreamed of? I don't think so.

It's really touching, how you suddenly care about israelis, who you usually consider occupiers from an artificial illegitimate nation.

How hard can it be to actually define a nation's borders?

When you're surrounded by enemies whose goal is to butcher you to the last baby, it's pretty hard.

Ben Gurion (and his Leninist cronies)

Ben Gurion actually was anti-communist and always refused to add the communist party to his government.
 
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Skeptic said:
When you're surrounded by enemies whose goal is to butcher you to the last baby, it's pretty hard.
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As long as Mubarak and Abdullah remain in charge that isn't going to happen to Israel.
 
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