Upcoming Israeli Elections

[Coyote]

I thought this might be an interesting thread to start. What are the primary concerns of the average Israeli in this election? Who do you think will do well? What coalitions are likely? What rabbits will Netanyahu pull from his hat to hang on to power?

Haaretz has a link to "build your own coalition" - based on current polling that's kind of fun:
Latest polls: Israel election 2019

Blue and White party and Likud are neck and neck.

Blue and White

The party was established to run in the April 2019 Knesset elections by the Israel Resilience Party, Yesh Atid, and Telem, [8] in hopes of defeating the current PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Blue and White defines itself as a pluralistic party representing all citizens on the political and religious spectrums.[9] The phrase "blue and white" refers to the colors of the Israeli flag, and is colloquially used to describe something as being typically Israeli.[10]

The central tenets of the Blue and White party platform include: introducing prime ministerial term limits, barring indicted politicians from serving in the Knesset, amending the Nation-State Law to include Israeli minorities, investing in early education, expanding health care, and re-entering negotiations with the Palestinian Authority for a peace agreement.[11]
​

It's hard to find a good description of Likud's platform, but this is from 2015 and seems pretty clear:


Likud

Position in the polls: 22-27
English website: onlythelikud.org.il/home/

Diplomatic platform: Party leader Netanyahu says the next government’s priority must be preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear capability, by turning world opinion in favor of maintaining and expanding economic and diplomatic sanctions against Tehran. The Likud is willing to make compromises for peace – concessions accompanied by real and dependable diplomatic arrangements. But Netanyahu has spoken out against further withdrawals from land, further releases of terrorists from prisons or dividing Jerusalem in any way.

Socioeconomic platform: Calls for a “free market economy with social sensitivity.” Says that to remain competitive in a global market, there is a need for budgetary discipline, lowering taxes, an effectively managed stock market and growth of the private sector. Netanyahu promised on Wednesday that in his next term, he would implement State Comptroller Joseph Shapira’s recommendations for ending the housing crisis and improve benefits for the self-employed.​

This is from the April Elections but gives an interesting synopsis of each party:

More than a dozen parties could make the next Knesset. Here’s a short description of each of them.

The front-runners:

Likud, Israel’s right-wing flagship, and Netanyahu’s party, opposes a Palestinian state, supports settlements and encourages privatization in the economy — but its main selling point is the longtime prime minister, who is seeking his fifth term.

Blue and White is a new centrist coalition led by a former military chief of staff, Benny Gantz. It was created to oppose Netanyahu and his alleged corruption.

Supporting actors on the right:

The New Right is kind of like Likud on steroids: Led by the prominent figures Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked, the party staunchly opposes Palestinian statehood and supports settlement growth, and features a very hawkish defense policy — what its platform calls an “iron fist” against Israel’s enemies.

Jewish Home-Jewish Power is the controversial union between a religious Zionist party and a far-right party, also known as Otzma Yehudit, that supports implementing religious law and waging “total war” on Israel’s enemies.

Israel Beiteinu champions the interests of Russian-speaking immigrants, along with a hard-line defense policy that calls for the execution of terrorists.

Kulanu is a center-right party focused on lowering Israel’s high cost of living.

Zehut is an unusual mix: libertarian — and in favor of marijuana legalization — but strongly against Palestinian statehood and Arab-Israeli equality.

Supporting actors on the left:

Labor is the sad trombone of Israeli politics. Once the left-wing flagship and largest party in the country, it’s now an also-ran to Blue and White.

Meretz is about as far left as you can go while remaining Zionist, supporting a Palestinian state alongside Israel along with minority rights and religious pluralism within Israel.

Haredi Orthodox:

United Torah Judaism is the Ashkenazi haredi party — the guys (they’re all guys) who support Orthodox control of Israel’s religious life, oppose mandatory army service for their followers and speak Yiddish.

Shas is the Sephardi haredi party — the guys (again, all guys) who stand for religious traditionalism as well as the rights of Israel’s Mizrahi (Middle Eastern and North African) Jewish population.

Arab Israeli:

Hadash-Taal supports Palestinian statehood and advocates for Israel’s Arab minority.

Balad-Raam supports Israel being a secular state for all its citizens and no longer a Jewish state.

— Ben Sales​

I don't get the point of discussing a list from the previous elections,
some parties no longer run as they were or at all.
The updated list:

Likud is the party of PM Netanyahu, the most solid and experienced party on the map, one that governed the state during all the ups and downs of the last decade. Their portfolio is available to examine in the pocket of every Israeli, in the cities and on the roads, north south and Judea.
Everyone who live here are familiar with the situation and the PM, and can reach their own conclusions based first hand experience and personal preference.

Blue and White - a new party of former state apparatus members that gained significant portion of the votes during the last elections Not sure many can say anything clear about their common political platform, other than they're against Netanyhu.

The New Right doesn't run as it was, and to say they "oppose Palestinian statehood is an overstatement in light of the fact that leader of the party proposed their own partition plan.
Ayelet Shaked now is the no1 of the renewed Religious Zionist list.

Yeminah - Joined Religious Zionist List represented by Ayelet Shaked.
Includes members from the Jewish Home, National Unity and the New Right.
Political platform: Jewish education, governance, wholeness of the country and sovereignty,
security and immigration, free market and employee rights, development of the Galilee and the Negev.

Otzmah Yehudit - Jewish Power runs independently, with a clear platform specifically focusing on the wholeness of the country, tougher security measures and reform of judiciary system.
In spite of being pushed to the outskirts for years by the establishment and the media, enjoys loyal support in a variety of public sectors.

Israel Beiteinu is the party of the former Defense minister Avigdor Lieberman, with a solid vote from the older generation of the immigrants from the Soviet Union. This elections the main focus of the political platform was opposition to Netanyahu and the influence of Jewish law in politics and division of land.

Kulanu doesn't run, joined Likud.
Zehut doesn't run, joined Likud

Labor now runs with Gesher, a feminist party, led by 'Amir Peretz.
With a political platform strongly focusing on the Arab voters, reform of the immigration and migration policy, division of land.

Meretz now runs in the Democratic Joint List, led by Nitzan Horowitz, Stav Shafir and Ehud Barak. With a focus on green socialist values, protection for illegal immigrants, division of land and abolition of the Jewish identity of the state.

Torah Judaism - is the orthodox party represented by members of the Ashkenazi Rabbinic courts,Strong focus on education and social programs with minimal involvement in other issues and a solid vote from a large and loyal audience.

Shas - the orthodox party of Rabbi Ovadyah Yosef ztz"l, representing the Sephardic Rabbinic courts. Solid support for Netanyahu with main focus on education, culture, social programs, as well as involvement in a wide range of governance and security issues similar to the religious Zionist camp. Solid vote from both the Orthodox and Zionist camps, as well as the Arab sector.

Hadash- Taal and Balad-Raam - run together in a joined Arab list.
Main and clear focus on PA socialist agenda, led by former adviser of of Yasser Arafat
Division for an Arab nation state, along with abolition of the Jewish national identity in Israel.
Currently experience disaffection from the Arab sector for lagging behind the government in implementing the reforms for which the former assigned vast budgets, while they promote the interests of anyone but their own communities.

What do You mean what are the issues, all the fundamental and sensitive questions of the world, only much more collectively charged and influential on humanity. Kinda like the salad of all worlds problems plus VAT.

I looked for what I could to initiate a discussion. I asked what are the major issues for the electorate in this election because I am curious what the average Israeli is concerned about. That is all.

Congrats! Your efforts bore fruits.
Think answered that as well.
Just wanted to clarify certain things to be up to date, that's all.

I would like to here more from actual Israeli’s.

How much more Israeli do You want?

You and Lipush, plus some others if possible. Thank you

 

[Coyote]

Elections are held regularly in hundreds of countries around the world.

I'm curious why elections in Israel would be worthy of its own thread on a board that isn't primarily about Israel?

Because we have an entire section devoted to IP and Israel, and more than a few Israeli members. I am curious what are the main concerns of the average Israeli. Often, all the hype you hear on the news isn’t what the average person going to the polls is thinking about. We think about jobs, the cost of housing, quality of education, who is going to fix the potholes.

I am also interested in the British politics because we have a number of British members.

I just thought it would make for an interesting non controversial discussion for a change. Apparently not.

 

[Coyote]

,l

I thought this might be an interesting thread to start. What are the primary concerns of the average Israeli in this election? Who do you think will do well? What coalitions are likely? What rabbits will Netanyahu pull from his hat to hang on to power?

Haaretz has a link to "build your own coalition" - based on current polling that's kind of fun:
Latest polls: Israel election 2019

Blue and White party and Likud are neck and neck.

Blue and White

The party was established to run in the April 2019 Knesset elections by the Israel Resilience Party, Yesh Atid, and Telem, [8] in hopes of defeating the current PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Blue and White defines itself as a pluralistic party representing all citizens on the political and religious spectrums.[9] The phrase "blue and white" refers to the colors of the Israeli flag, and is colloquially used to describe something as being typically Israeli.[10]

The central tenets of the Blue and White party platform include: introducing prime ministerial term limits, barring indicted politicians from serving in the Knesset, amending the Nation-State Law to include Israeli minorities, investing in early education, expanding health care, and re-entering negotiations with the Palestinian Authority for a peace agreement.[11]
​

It's hard to find a good description of Likud's platform, but this is from 2015 and seems pretty clear:

Likud

Position in the polls: 22-27
English website: onlythelikud.org.il/home/

Diplomatic platform: Party leader Netanyahu says the next government’s priority must be preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear capability, by turning world opinion in favor of maintaining and expanding economic and diplomatic sanctions against Tehran. The Likud is willing to make compromises for peace – concessions accompanied by real and dependable diplomatic arrangements. But Netanyahu has spoken out against further withdrawals from land, further releases of terrorists from prisons or dividing Jerusalem in any way.

Socioeconomic platform: Calls for a “free market economy with social sensitivity.” Says that to remain competitive in a global market, there is a need for budgetary discipline, lowering taxes, an effectively managed stock market and growth of the private sector. Netanyahu promised on Wednesday that in his next term, he would implement State Comptroller Joseph Shapira’s recommendations for ending the housing crisis and improve benefits for the self-employed.​

This is from the April Elections but gives an interesting synopsis of each party:

More than a dozen parties could make the next Knesset. Here’s a short description of each of them.

The front-runners:

Likud, Israel’s right-wing flagship, and Netanyahu’s party, opposes a Palestinian state, supports settlements and encourages privatization in the economy — but its main selling point is the longtime prime minister, who is seeking his fifth term.

Blue and White is a new centrist coalition led by a former military chief of staff, Benny Gantz. It was created to oppose Netanyahu and his alleged corruption.

Supporting actors on the right:

The New Right is kind of like Likud on steroids: Led by the prominent figures Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked, the party staunchly opposes Palestinian statehood and supports settlement growth, and features a very hawkish defense policy — what its platform calls an “iron fist” against Israel’s enemies.

Jewish Home-Jewish Power is the controversial union between a religious Zionist party and a far-right party, also known as Otzma Yehudit, that supports implementing religious law and waging “total war” on Israel’s enemies.

Israel Beiteinu champions the interests of Russian-speaking immigrants, along with a hard-line defense policy that calls for the execution of terrorists.

Kulanu is a center-right party focused on lowering Israel’s high cost of living.

Zehut is an unusual mix: libertarian — and in favor of marijuana legalization — but strongly against Palestinian statehood and Arab-Israeli equality.

Supporting actors on the left:

Labor is the sad trombone of Israeli politics. Once the left-wing flagship and largest party in the country, it’s now an also-ran to Blue and White.

Meretz is about as far left as you can go while remaining Zionist, supporting a Palestinian state alongside Israel along with minority rights and religious pluralism within Israel.

Haredi Orthodox:

United Torah Judaism is the Ashkenazi haredi party — the guys (they’re all guys) who support Orthodox control of Israel’s religious life, oppose mandatory army service for their followers and speak Yiddish.

Shas is the Sephardi haredi party — the guys (again, all guys) who stand for religious traditionalism as well as the rights of Israel’s Mizrahi (Middle Eastern and North African) Jewish population.

Arab Israeli:

Hadash-Taal supports Palestinian statehood and advocates for Israel’s Arab minority.

Balad-Raam supports Israel being a secular state for all its citizens and no longer a Jewish state.

— Ben Sales​

Why is this a concern to you and not the elections of Bali, New Zealand, or Cambodia?

Oh yeah.

The Jews and the Lefts anti-Semitic mental illness.

Thanks for trying to ruin a nice discussion.

 

[Coyote]

Fuck it.

Ruin the thread as you wish. I thought it would be interesting.

No wonder mostly trolls post in IP. Have at it.

I am done.

 

[Weatherman2020]

,l

I thought this might be an interesting thread to start. What are the primary concerns of the average Israeli in this election? Who do you think will do well? What coalitions are likely? What rabbits will Netanyahu pull from his hat to hang on to power?

Haaretz has a link to "build your own coalition" - based on current polling that's kind of fun:
Latest polls: Israel election 2019

Blue and White party and Likud are neck and neck.

Blue and White

The party was established to run in the April 2019 Knesset elections by the Israel Resilience Party, Yesh Atid, and Telem, [8] in hopes of defeating the current PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Blue and White defines itself as a pluralistic party representing all citizens on the political and religious spectrums.[9] The phrase "blue and white" refers to the colors of the Israeli flag, and is colloquially used to describe something as being typically Israeli.[10]

The central tenets of the Blue and White party platform include: introducing prime ministerial term limits, barring indicted politicians from serving in the Knesset, amending the Nation-State Law to include Israeli minorities, investing in early education, expanding health care, and re-entering negotiations with the Palestinian Authority for a peace agreement.[11]
​

It's hard to find a good description of Likud's platform, but this is from 2015 and seems pretty clear:

Likud

Position in the polls: 22-27
English website: onlythelikud.org.il/home/

Diplomatic platform: Party leader Netanyahu says the next government’s priority must be preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear capability, by turning world opinion in favor of maintaining and expanding economic and diplomatic sanctions against Tehran. The Likud is willing to make compromises for peace – concessions accompanied by real and dependable diplomatic arrangements. But Netanyahu has spoken out against further withdrawals from land, further releases of terrorists from prisons or dividing Jerusalem in any way.

Socioeconomic platform: Calls for a “free market economy with social sensitivity.” Says that to remain competitive in a global market, there is a need for budgetary discipline, lowering taxes, an effectively managed stock market and growth of the private sector. Netanyahu promised on Wednesday that in his next term, he would implement State Comptroller Joseph Shapira’s recommendations for ending the housing crisis and improve benefits for the self-employed.​

This is from the April Elections but gives an interesting synopsis of each party:

More than a dozen parties could make the next Knesset. Here’s a short description of each of them.

The front-runners:

Likud, Israel’s right-wing flagship, and Netanyahu’s party, opposes a Palestinian state, supports settlements and encourages privatization in the economy — but its main selling point is the longtime prime minister, who is seeking his fifth term.

Blue and White is a new centrist coalition led by a former military chief of staff, Benny Gantz. It was created to oppose Netanyahu and his alleged corruption.

Supporting actors on the right:

The New Right is kind of like Likud on steroids: Led by the prominent figures Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked, the party staunchly opposes Palestinian statehood and supports settlement growth, and features a very hawkish defense policy — what its platform calls an “iron fist” against Israel’s enemies.

Jewish Home-Jewish Power is the controversial union between a religious Zionist party and a far-right party, also known as Otzma Yehudit, that supports implementing religious law and waging “total war” on Israel’s enemies.

Israel Beiteinu champions the interests of Russian-speaking immigrants, along with a hard-line defense policy that calls for the execution of terrorists.

Kulanu is a center-right party focused on lowering Israel’s high cost of living.

Zehut is an unusual mix: libertarian — and in favor of marijuana legalization — but strongly against Palestinian statehood and Arab-Israeli equality.

Supporting actors on the left:

Labor is the sad trombone of Israeli politics. Once the left-wing flagship and largest party in the country, it’s now an also-ran to Blue and White.

Meretz is about as far left as you can go while remaining Zionist, supporting a Palestinian state alongside Israel along with minority rights and religious pluralism within Israel.

Haredi Orthodox:

United Torah Judaism is the Ashkenazi haredi party — the guys (they’re all guys) who support Orthodox control of Israel’s religious life, oppose mandatory army service for their followers and speak Yiddish.

Shas is the Sephardi haredi party — the guys (again, all guys) who stand for religious traditionalism as well as the rights of Israel’s Mizrahi (Middle Eastern and North African) Jewish population.

Arab Israeli:

Hadash-Taal supports Palestinian statehood and advocates for Israel’s Arab minority.

Balad-Raam supports Israel being a secular state for all its citizens and no longer a Jewish state.

— Ben Sales​

Why is this a concern to you and not the elections of Bali, New Zealand, or Cambodia?

Oh yeah.

The Jews and the Lefts anti-Semitic mental illness.

Thanks for trying to ruin a nice discussion.

The Lefts racist stance against Jews is well known. Only nation you want to talk about because of hate.

 

[Lipush]

It seems like Likud and Blue and White both gave ir their best and are now head ro head. Rivlin will have to stay awake many nights to solve this one out.

 

[skye]

Netanyahu Pledges Strong, Zionist Government as He Awaits Election Results

Good...let's see what happens...I like Bibi..so hope for the best


Netanyahu Pledges Strong, Zionist Government as He Awaits Election Results | Breitbart

 

[Lipush]

Meh. Don't like him much, but don't like those opposing him, either.

 

[Natural Citizen]

Fuck it.

Ruin the thread as you wish. I thought it would be interesting.

No wonder mostly trolls post in IP. Have at it.

I am done.

It actually is a good thread. Everyone seemed to be having civil discourse, informative discourse in my view. Weatherman's just in the gutter, as usual. It's crazy, isn't it? The only thing they know how to do in middle eastern threads is call people bigots right outta the gate. Agreed with your thought on mostly trolls posting in that section.

Anyway. Netanyahu is out. Pedictably pleading for unity. Apparently, that seems to be the plan. Except no Netanyahu given the bribery and breach of trust corruption cases. He'll certainly have to face those now, with no means of making himself immune. I doubt much will come of it anyway.

 

[Natural Citizen]

The updated list:

Likud is the party of PM Netanyahu, the most solid and experienced party on the map, one that governed the state during all the ups and downs of the last decade. Their portfolio is available to examine in the pocket of every Israeli, in the cities and on the roads, north south and Judea.
Everyone who live here are familiar with the situation and the PM, and can reach their own conclusions based first hand experience and personal preference.

Blue and White - a new party of former state apparatus members that gained significant portion of the votes during the last elections Not sure many can say anything clear about their common political platform, other than they're against Netanyhu.

The New Right doesn't run as it was, and to say they "oppose Palestinian statehood is an overstatement in light of the fact that leader of the party proposed their own partition plan.
Ayelet Shaked now is the no1 of the renewed Religious Zionist list.

Yeminah - Joined Religious Zionist List represented by Ayelet Shaked.
Includes members from the Jewish Home, National Unity and the New Right.
Political platform: Jewish education, governance, wholeness of the country and sovereignty,
security and immigration, free market and employee rights, development of the Galilee and the Negev.

Otzmah Yehudit - Jewish Power runs independently, with a clear platform specifically focusing on the wholeness of the country, tougher security measures and reform of judiciary system.
In spite of being pushed to the outskirts for years by the establishment and the media, enjoys loyal support in a variety of public sectors.

Israel Beiteinu is the party of the former Defense minister Avigdor Lieberman, with a solid vote from the older generation of the immigrants from the Soviet Union. This elections the main focus of the political platform was opposition to Netanyahu and the influence of Jewish law in politics and division of land.

Kulanu doesn't run, joined Likud.
Zehut doesn't run, joined Likud

Labor now runs with Gesher, a feminist party, led by 'Amir Peretz.
With a political platform strongly focusing on the Arab voters, reform of the immigration and migration policy, division of land.

Meretz now runs in the Democratic Joint List, led by Nitzan Horowitz, Stav Shafir and Ehud Barak. With a focus on green socialist values, protection for illegal immigrants, division of land and abolition of the Jewish identity of the state.

Torah Judaism - is the orthodox party represented by members of the Ashkenazi Rabbinic courts,Strong focus on education and social programs with minimal involvement in other issues and a solid vote from a large and loyal audience.

Shas - the orthodox party of Rabbi Ovadyah Yosef ztz"l, representing the Sephardic Rabbinic courts. Solid support for Netanyahu with main focus on education, culture, social programs, as well as involvement in a wide range of governance and security issues similar to the religious Zionist camp. Solid vote from both the Orthodox and Zionist camps, as well as the Arab sector.

Hadash- Taal and Balad-Raam - run together in a joined Arab list.
Main and clear focus on PA socialist agenda, led by former adviser of of Yasser Arafat
Division for an Arab nation state, along with abolition of the Jewish national identity in Israel.
Currently experience disaffection from the Arab sector for lagging behind the government in implementing the reforms for which the former assigned vast budgets, while they promote the interests of anyone but their own communities.

What do You mean what are the issues, all the fundamental and sensitive questions of the world, only much more collectively charged and influential on humanity. Kinda like the salad of all worlds problems plus VAT.

That's a lot to wrap one's head around.

 

[Coyote]

What coalitions are likely?

 

[rylah]

What coalitions are likely?

Too many variables.
After spending hours reading about various possible combinations, thought about writing here a short summery of the situation, map...and gave up realizing how complicated and open ended everything is at the moment. All endless speculations.

 

[Coyote]

What coalitions are likely?

Too many variables.
After spending hours reading about various possible combinations, thought about writing here a short summery of the situation, map...and gave up realizing how complicated and open ended everything is at the moment. All endless speculations.

I thought the Haaretz link of possible coalitions was interesting. It's confusing and complicated system (though many find the US system confusing and complicated too).

 

[rylah]

What coalitions are likely?

Too many variables.
After spending hours reading about various possible combinations, thought about writing here a short summery of the situation, map...and gave up realizing how complicated and open ended everything is at the moment. All endless speculations.

I thought the Haaretz link of possible coalitions was interesting. It's confusing and complicated system (though many find the US system confusing and complicated too).

It's not the voting-mandate system, though needs certain correction, but the conditions of the big players, and their main campaign promises that are set so that it's a deadlock - either someone needs to make a significant compromise, or it's just a matter of who's gonna be viewed as responsible for the 3rd round,
if nothing works.

 

[rylah]

Netanyahu's Likud = 31 mandates
Orthodox-Zionist camp = 55 mandates

Blue and white = 33
Secular- Zionist block = 44

Lieberman's Israel Beitenu with 8 mandates and a clear secular right-wing political platform.
Arab Joint List with 13 mandates, and former adviser of Yasser Arafat as representative...

The Orthodox-Zionist camp signed an agreement to go as a block, with a possibility of joining one of the parties within the Likud, to increase the mandates. But given that the List already declared they won't sit in the coalition (and much more), along with Lieberman's electorate, they don't really need to do much, but let Mr "48 hours" and the 3 generals try form a govt with Samir Kuntar's fan club..

 

[rylah]

Update on recent Samir Kuntar's fan-club demands:

• Appointments - head of Interior and Finance committees
• Political Arrangement: 2 State Solution based on '67 lines
• Cancellation - Nationality Law and privileges for ex-military
• Infrastructure - Arab city, Arab university, Arab hospital
• Budget - $18 billion for the Arab community
• Legislation - Basic Law of Equality, reinforcing the Basic Law of Dignity and Liberty.
• War on Crime - govt decision to eradicate crime in Arab settlements
• Employment - establishment of industrial zones in Arab settlements

 

[Coyote]

Confusing....this is like a rubrics cube.

 

[rylah]

State President's Consultations for the Government's Assembly with the factions: Blue and White, Likud, Joint List, Shas and Israel Beitenu.

Live broadcast

 

[Coyote]

It is not in English unfortunately.

 

[Coyote]

Update on recent Samir Kuntar's fan-club demands:

• Appointments - head of Interior and Finance committees
• Political Arrangement: 2 State Solution based on '67 lines
• Cancellation - Nationality Law and privileges for ex-military
• Infrastructure - Arab city, Arab university, Arab hospital
• Budget - $18 billion for the Arab community
• Legislation - Basic Law of Equality, reinforcing the Basic Law of Dignity and Liberty.
• War on Crime - govt decision to eradicate crime in Arab settlements
• Employment - establishment of industrial zones in Arab settlements

What is interesting to me is what people’s concerns, which don’t reported on much outside of Israel. Crime and community investment seem to feature in several of their points.