Israel's Netanyahu emerges with slight edge after tight race

[rambling]

Just wait a while more, It's not over yet, the fat lady hasn't sung yet....

It's over. 94% of votes counted. Likud 30, ZU 24.

Interestingly looks like most of the Likud strength came from drawing voters out of his close, hard-core right wing allies, Jewish Home and Israel our Home. So the right wing block remains unchanged from previous elections with 44 seats.

[Steely Dan]

Oh well, better luck next time for Obama, spending U.S taxpayers money on a campaign to elect anyone but Bibi. This pre-dated the invitation by Congress for Bibi to address them. It also sits uneasily against donations made towards Obamas first election campaign from donors in the Gaza Strip.

I guess the Obama administration can now turn their attention and taxpayers money towards interfering in the democratic process of another state, as he has with Nigeria, where they are endorsing a former Military dictator and Sharia law proponent against the incumbent President Goodluck Johnathan.

[RockyBeerbelly]

Good news. The best man won!

For supporters of fascism it is indeed good news......

Those who are opposed to the existence of Israel are not interested at all in any election taking place within that state. So any comments re the outcome of such an election are actually gratuitous.

Those who don't oppose the existence of Israel, but oppose the atrocities it commits under the Likud regime have full right to be concerned about Israeli re-electing a fascistic idiot who actually threatens with a nuclear war (ie bomb nuclear facilities in Iran). The people voting for Netanyahu don't care/think about anything else but themselves, feel they stand above anybody else (ubermensch?) and are the cancer to the world politics. More war and murdering of people is their solution to solving problems, and these people call themselves religious Jews! They are no different form the idiots who step in the bus wearing a "life-vest", the only difference is that they use rockets and war planes to kill thousands iso that life-vest killing "just" a bus-load. People in their right mind are sick and tired of Likud, (religious) extremist support them. It is really sad and very scary that 30% of the Israeli are extremist with fascist tendencies.....

[Publicus]

Rivlin can't force a coalition if the major parties won't do it. He's stated repeatedly that he'd like to see a coalition government but in the end he'll go with whoever can group together enough seats.

Kahlon holds the cards. He has about ten seats which will probably go to Bibi and Kahlon would then be the finance minister.

The odds are in favor of Bibi pulling this off.

Elections have rarely been held every four years in Israel. The last election was just over a year ago, in January of 2013. In December of 2014, amid opposition from within his own government, Netanyahu fired Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, declaring, ”I will not tolerate any opposition in my government.” In the same move, he called for early elections, and a week later the parliament voted to dissolve itself and declared early elections would be held in March 2015.

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/5-things-know-about-israeli-elections

Let's give Kahlon or every other one 12 months, OK ?

The new Italy.

[NeverSure]

Do Israelis want to be alienated from the west in a lonely island situated in a hostile neighbourhood?

They already are.

[dexterm]

4 more years of the same then;

Increased isolation of Israel

Increased alienation of US govt...Netanyahu hardly endeared himself by rudely meddling in another country’s affairs. Plus his one state solution is at odds with US and global support for a 2 state solution. US will continue to be embarrassed in the UN and the world stage by allowing the tail to wag the dog.

Threats to bomb Iran. US and other governments won’t support such a move if they have just spent years negotiating a deal with Iran and the UN has lifted sanctions. If he does bomb Iran, Israelis can expect hundreds of Hezbollah rockets from Lebanon.

No new ideas for peace with Palestinians. One good thing to emerge from election campaign...we now know Netanyahu’s true colors... he says there will never be a Palestinian State. No more hypocrisy then insisting on Oslo Accords and direct negotiations. The Palestinians will be well advised to deal directly with ICC and UN.

Continued control and daily repression of the lives of 4.5 million Palestinians under occupation with no right to self determination. The world will increasingly see what an apartheid regime Israel is running.

Maybe he will provoke another war in Gaza..the IDF is shooting at Gazans on a daily basis http://www.maannews.com/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=759933 Not much left to destroy there now. But Bibi doesn’t mind sacrificing Israeli soldiers.

With such prospects the lives of Palestinians and Israelis are not set to improve. I can’t see where the fresh ideas are coming from.

Israelis have made their bed. Now they must lie in it.

Mostly correct except for a couple of things:

1. Anything Bibi said pre-elections applies only pre-elections, and most likely only for that specific time of day :-) It has zero validity or relevance now. That's just how he is.

2. IDF isn't shooting Gazans on a daily basis, that Palestinian "source" is a joke.

That's just how he is. ..what?... a liar and a hypocrite and the PM of Israel.

Try this source that confirms the daily shooting of Gazans by out of control IDF. Do bear this in mind when the muddying of the timelines are next fabricated by the Israeli apologists.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2015/02/gaza-farmers-front-lines-perpetual-war-150223184305316.html

Edited March 18, 2015 by dexterm

[Publicus]

Oh well, better luck next time for Obama, spending U.S taxpayers money on a campaign to elect anyone but Bibi. This pre-dated the invitation by Congress for Bibi to address them. It also sits uneasily against donations made towards Obamas first election campaign from donors in the Gaza Strip.

I guess the Obama administration can now turn their attention and taxpayers money towards interfering in the democratic process of another state, as he has with Nigeria, where they are endorsing a former Military dictator and Sharia law proponent against the incumbent President Goodluck Johnathan.

Political spam.

[dexterm]

Oh well, better luck next time for Obama, spending U.S taxpayers money on a campaign to elect anyone but Bibi. This pre-dated the invitation by Congress for Bibi to address them. It also sits uneasily against donations made towards Obamas first election campaign from donors in the Gaza Strip.

I guess the Obama administration can now turn their attention and taxpayers money towards interfering in the democratic process of another state, as he has with Nigeria, where they are endorsing a former Military dictator and Sharia law proponent against the incumbent President Goodluck Johnathan.

Any proof of your slander apart from Fox Noise fabrications?

[rambling]

No idea why Obama got pushed into this thread. Voting and public debate in Israel had nothing to do with Obama, no one cared or talked about him in the context of these elections.

[rambling]

4 more years of the same then;

Increased isolation of Israel

Increased alienation of US govt...Netanyahu hardly endeared himself by rudely meddling in another country’s affairs. Plus his one state solution is at odds with US and global support for a 2 state solution. US will continue to be embarrassed in the UN and the world stage by allowing the tail to wag the dog.

Threats to bomb Iran. US and other governments won’t support such a move if they have just spent years negotiating a deal with Iran and the UN has lifted sanctions. If he does bomb Iran, Israelis can expect hundreds of Hezbollah rockets from Lebanon.

No new ideas for peace with Palestinians. One good thing to emerge from election campaign...we now know Netanyahu’s true colors... he says there will never be a Palestinian State. No more hypocrisy then insisting on Oslo Accords and direct negotiations. The Palestinians will be well advised to deal directly with ICC and UN.

Continued control and daily repression of the lives of 4.5 million Palestinians under occupation with no right to self determination. The world will increasingly see what an apartheid regime Israel is running.

Maybe he will provoke another war in Gaza..the IDF is shooting at Gazans on a daily basis http://www.maannews.com/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=759933 Not much left to destroy there now. But Bibi doesn’t mind sacrificing Israeli soldiers.

With such prospects the lives of Palestinians and Israelis are not set to improve. I can’t see where the fresh ideas are coming from.

Israelis have made their bed. Now they must lie in it.

Mostly correct except for a couple of things:

1. Anything Bibi said pre-elections applies only pre-elections, and most likely only for that specific time of day :-) It has zero validity or relevance now. That's just how he is.

2. IDF isn't shooting Gazans on a daily basis, that Palestinian "source" is a joke.

That's just how he is. ..what?... a liar and a hypocrite and the PM of Israel.

Try this source that confirms the daily shooting of Gazans by out of control IDF. Do bear this in mind when the muddying of the timelines are next fabricated by the Israeli apologists.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2015/02/gaza-farmers-front-lines-perpetual-war-150223184305316.html

1. Yes. Need examples?

2. Al jazeera isn't exactly a balanced or impartial source AND there's no mention of "daily shooting" at all. Farmers on the Israeli side of the border also sustained heavy damage from Palestinian rockets and were forced to leave their homes.

[dexterm]

4 more years of the same then;

Increased isolation of Israel

Increased alienation of US govt...Netanyahu hardly endeared himself by rudely meddling in another country’s affairs. Plus his one state solution is at odds with US and global support for a 2 state solution. US will continue to be embarrassed in the UN and the world stage by allowing the tail to wag the dog.

Threats to bomb Iran. US and other governments won’t support such a move if they have just spent years negotiating a deal with Iran and the UN has lifted sanctions. If he does bomb Iran, Israelis can expect hundreds of Hezbollah rockets from Lebanon.

No new ideas for peace with Palestinians. One good thing to emerge from election campaign...we now know Netanyahu’s true colors... he says there will never be a Palestinian State. No more hypocrisy then insisting on Oslo Accords and direct negotiations. The Palestinians will be well advised to deal directly with ICC and UN.

Continued control and daily repression of the lives of 4.5 million Palestinians under occupation with no right to self determination. The world will increasingly see what an apartheid regime Israel is running.

Maybe he will provoke another war in Gaza..the IDF is shooting at Gazans on a daily basis http://www.maannews.com/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=759933 Not much left to destroy there now. But Bibi doesn’t mind sacrificing Israeli soldiers.

With such prospects the lives of Palestinians and Israelis are not set to improve. I can’t see where the fresh ideas are coming from.

Israelis have made their bed. Now they must lie in it.

Mostly correct except for a couple of things:

1. Anything Bibi said pre-elections applies only pre-elections, and most likely only for that specific time of day :-) It has zero validity or relevance now. That's just how he is.

2. IDF isn't shooting Gazans on a daily basis, that Palestinian "source" is a joke.

That's just how he is. ..what?... a liar and a hypocrite and the PM of Israel.

Try this source that confirms the daily shooting of Gazans by out of control IDF. Do bear this in mind when the muddying of the timelines are next fabricated by the Israeli apologists.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/inpictures/2015/02/gaza-farmers-front-lines-perpetual-war-150223184305316.html

1. Yes. Need examples?

2. Al jazeera isn't exactly a balanced or impartial source AND there's no mention of "daily shooting" at all. Farmers on the Israeli side of the border also sustained heavy damage from Palestinian rockets and were forced to leave their homes.

I see you used the past tense "sustained"...referring to last year's Gaza War. The Hamas rockets have stopped, but the IDF's daily provocations have not.

But I can see by your obfuscation that the muddying of the timeline has begun, just as I predicted.

[Seastallion]

This is good news insofar as it will mean a quicker, but more painful birth of the Palestinian nation.

It will also mean the Palestinians will get more of what they want because the State will be formed unilaterally.

Fascist Netanyahu will not be able to stop himself from breaking more and more international laws and the Geneva Convention, especially as he's probably going to be aligned with extreme right wingers.

He's setting Israel up for punishment. Good thing.

Edited March 18, 2015 by Seastallion

[geriatrickid]

If Israel continues on the path its taken, EU will stop playing ball at some point. US will be the last and only playmate. Do Israelis want to be alienated from the west in a lonely island situated in a hostile neighbourhood? If so, then thats what they will get.

Or change and behave like modern western democracies with no discrimination, segregation and full equal rights for everyone no matter if you are jew or not.

A two-state solution is required and stopping treating Gaza as a de facto part of Israel while at the same time treating Gaza like a embargoed enemy country.

The EU has never played ball as you term it. It tries the appeasement of arabs strategy for decades, only to be repaid with terror attacks from the middle easterners it gave shelter to. You forget that it was Italy and France who led the invasion in Libya. It is the Eu who pushed meddling in Syria. It is France who insisted on intervention in Algeria and Tunisia. The UK has long played to Gulf state oil interests and never been much of a supporter of Israel. the reality is that Israel has nothing much to lose if the EU wants to cosy up to the people who wish to colonize it.

You use terms such as segregation a full equal rights as if Israel is alone with these issues. You forget that the arab parliamentary delegation now hold greta influence in Israel. The arabs have a vote. That is certainly more than is given to others in arab countries. You reference segregation as if this is an Israel only problem. There are parts of the UK, Germany, Italy, France where non muslims dare not go, yet you are silent on this. It is easy for the Scandanavians to wave a finger in disapproval, but they are essentially homogeneous countries, predominately white and Christian. israel is made up of millions of people of different cultural backgrounds. Very few countries would be able to mix arabs from the Yemen, Egypt, with Iranians, Russians, Ethiopians,South Africans and Americans without a race war breaking out.

How many times does it have to be said? The arabs were given the option of 2 states. They walked away from it twice. There is a price to be paid for greed, selfishness and corruption.

[rambling]

This is good news insofar as it will mean a quicker, but more painful birth of the Palestinian nation.

It will also mean the Palestinians will get more of what they want because the State will be formed unilaterally.

Fascist Netanyahu will not be able to stop himself from breaking more and more international laws and the Geneva Convention, especially as he's probably going to be aligned with extreme right wingers.

He's setting Israel up for punishment. Good thing.

That's one possible scenario, that's the main line of thought of the Arab party in Israel. (14 seats btw, pretty impressive turnout there).

I'm not sure it will play out this way though. Bibi is a skillful master in.. doing nothing. He is not driven by ideology, unlike his extreme right wing partners, he's driven purely by his wish to remain in power (and not pay for his ice cream). Anything which rocks the boat and upsets the status quo will risk this and will be a no go. That's why there's a stalemate in so many areas in Israel for the past 6 years.

Can he pull this off again for another 4 years? It's hard to tell, it's certainly going to get harder and harder to do.

[webfact]

Likud leading in Israel elections after 70% of ballots counted

TEL AVIV, March 18. /TASS/. The Likud party of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leading in Israel’s parliamentary elections after 70% of ballots have been counted, the country’s Central Elections Committee (CEC) reported.

Likud gained 23.73% of the vote, and the party’s key rival in the elections - center-left political alliance The Zionist Union of Isaac Herzog received 19.06%, the CEC said.

Source: http://tass.ru/en/world/783402

-- TASS 2015-03-18

[rambling]

Likud leading in Israel elections after 70% of ballots counted

TEL AVIV, March 18. /TASS/. The Likud party of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leading in Israel’s parliamentary elections after 70% of ballots have been counted, the country’s Central Elections Committee (CEC) reported.

Likud gained 23.73% of the vote, and the party’s key rival in the elections - center-left political alliance The Zionist Union of Isaac Herzog received 19.06%, the CEC said.

Source: http://tass.ru/en/world/783402

-- TASS 2015-03-18

99% of votes counted. Biggest 3 parties are:

Likud 29

Zionist Union 24

Arab joint list 14

Edited March 18, 2015 by rambling

[dexterm]

I see you used the past tense "sustained"...referring to last year's Gaza War. The Hamas rockets have stopped, but the IDF's daily provocations have not.

But I can see by your obfuscation that the muddying of the timeline has begun, just as I predicted.

Funny.

Anyway, I'm still waiting for a source for your claim of "daily shooting" now turned "daily provocations".

I have given you 2 sources already. Do your own research.

I can't help you if you are in denial about the IDF's daily provocative shootings.

[rambling]

I see you used the past tense "sustained"...referring to last year's Gaza War. The Hamas rockets have stopped, but the IDF's daily provocations have not.

But I can see by your obfuscation that the muddying of the timeline has begun, just as I predicted.

Funny.

Anyway, I'm still waiting for a source for your claim of "daily shooting" now turned "daily provocations".

I have given you 2 sources already. Do your own research.

I can't help you if you are in denial about the IDF's daily provocative shootings.

No you haven't. One "source" was a joke, and the other has zero mentions of "daily" anything.. but that's OK, I concede and you win.

[Steely Dan]

Do Israelis want to be alienated from the west in a lonely island situated in a hostile neighbourhood?

They already are.

Actually relations with the current Egyptian and Jordanian regimes is pretty good at present and a tacit cooperation has already emerged with Saudi Arabia and much of the GCC. China, India and Japan all have active and increasing ties with Israel. The only nations its isolated from are tinpot commie republics, Islamist hell holes and a Europe hell bent on self destruction through culture enrichment instigated by their liberal elites.

[ggold]

The OP doesn't say, but the president of Israel whose only apparent role is to ask a party to form a government after an election, said he will insist on a national unity government of Likud and Zionist Union. The president seems to see it as a matter of national survival, as indicated by this report in the Guardian....

President Reuven Rivlin has indicated he will seek a national unity government – of Likud and Zionist Union – contra the wishes of both Netanyahu and Herzog, my colleague Peter Beaumont reports from Jerusalem.

Rivlin, whose constitutional role is to invite the leader most likely to form a stable coalition, said: “I am convinced that only a unity government can prevent the rapid disintegration of Israel’s democracy and new elections in the near future.”

http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/mar/17/israel-elections-netanyahu-herzog-voters-coalition-knesset#block-55089f3ae4b0b2716932e2d7

Either Likud or the Zionist Union forming a coalition government would be unstable and very likely unsustainable for very long.

I think the president of Israel sees the election result pretty clearly and presciently, that if Netanhayu leads a new government, it's Israel against the world.

A Netanyahu strongly right wing government would be one of the few militant extremist governments of the world and in the most volatile region of the world. Netanyahu is beginning to look like a cross of Rush Limbaugh, Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin.

Ah, plan B, the fallback option for the anti-Netanyahu camp. With Netanyahu still in the drivers seat at least three things are achieved. 1. The real prospect of Israel bombing the Iranian nuclear reactors if a sham deal is struck between Washington and Tehran.

2. No unilateral concessions to the Palestinians, which are never reciprocated.

3. No more interference from Obama attempting to foist any old 'peace' deal on Israel with no guarantees over her security during the remains of his lame duck presidency.

Appreciate if you or a Mod would clarify the post plse thx.

what's a matter Publicus, don't you understand democracy?

Rivlin can only cause a unity government if the votes at so close as to not show a clear winner. Netanyahu won end of story.

[dexterm]

Do Israelis want to be alienated from the west in a lonely island situated in a hostile neighbourhood?

They already are.

Actually relations with the current Egyptian and Jordanian regimes is pretty good at present and a tacit cooperation has already emerged with Saudi Arabia and much of the GCC. China, India and Japan all have active and increasing ties with Israel. The only nations its isolated from are tinpot commie republics, Islamist hell holes and a Europe hell bent on self destruction through culture enrichment instigated by their liberal elites.

But EU is Israel's largest trading partner, so like it or not has considerable clout.

Netanyahu is bound to shoot himself in the foot again. Bring on further Palestinian recognition and EU sanctions against Israel. When their wallets are hit, their hearts and minds will follow.

As one Israeli apologist on this forum is fond of saying...Israel is going nowhere.

[BKKBobby]

4 more years of the same then;

Increased isolation of Israel

Increased alienation of US govt...

Israel is already isolated and has already had to fight for its existence. That's not likely to stop no matter what because it has a lot of neighbors who've been bent on destroying it since the 1940's.

As for alienation of the US government, who gives a sh? Obama's pretending is over in less than two years but Israel has to continue.

If Israel continues on the path its taken, EU will stop playing ball at some point. US will be the last and only playmate. Do Israelis want to be alienated from the west in a lonely island situated in a hostile neighbourhood? If so, then thats what they will get.

Or change and behave like modern western democracies with no discrimination, segregation and full equal rights for everyone no matter if you are jew or not.

A two-state solution is required and stopping treating Gaza as a de facto part of Israel while at the same time treating Gaza like a embargoed enemy country.

OK, how is Israel using Gaza a de facto part of Israel? I didn't think there were any Israelis in Gaza, Didn't see any Israeli flags flying there either?

Using as in controlling imports/exports in and out of Gaza, using as in controlling the flow of funds into Gaza, using as in controlling the entrys and exits out of Gaza from the sea. Makes it sound like Israel sees (uses) Gaza as a province of Israel?

[rambling]

No idea why Obama got pushed into this thread.

Netanyahu mentioned on several occasions that foreign governments and foreign-based organizations have been working to eject him. He said the coalition seeking to oust him is generously funded by foreign donors who are also encouraging a high voter turnout among Israels Arab and left-wing voters in a bid to replace the existing leadership. Netanyahu called the campaign unprecedented.

Yes he said something in this spirit on a number of occasions. I don't remember him specifically mentioning governments but foreign organizations yes.

Firstly that doesn't make it true. There's no evidence that the left was funded externally unusually, or any more than he was.

He himself is owned by Sheldon Adelson the US billionaire and has huge amounts of money flowing from US donors. This is all public knowledge as donations require disclosure by law and the information is easily available.

Secondly, I don't think people understood his comments to mean Obama specifically. Obviously I can't speak for what every person thinks but that's my impression. There were also references made to European elements in some campaign materials released by extreme right wing. I don't remember anything about US president/administration/government being mentioned. However I did not watch all the TV campaigns.

In the end I believe that Obama and US did not play a meaningful part in terms of influencing voters decisions. I could be wrong.

[siampolee]

One wonders why people like the Oregon Oracle who live here are so pro Netanyahu and his fascist policies?

Might I suggest that all of you Netanyuhu fans emigrate to Israel,

That is of course if you are accepted there and can and will integrate into the very mixed privileged society of the self proclaimed (second time around but different country this time) chosen race of course.

Edited March 18, 2015 by siampolee

[Jingthing]

More back to the topic. Bibi has done something "interesting" in this election.

Made relations with the U.S. more of a partisan issue in the U.S.

Come out of the closet about his lack of intention regarding two state solution. Astute observers already knew that but it's significant he has said so explicitly.

The Arabs going out to vote fear baiting comment by Bibi was very impolitic and racist but it's little different than when U.S. republicans try to suppress voting rights of minorities with crafty laws though no president is going to explicitly talk about that.

It was clearly politically motivated ... to put fire under the tushes of the Israeli right wing to get out and vote for him, and vote for him they did, so from a purely campaign tactic POV it worked, but was it worth it what it even more openly shows the world about the Israeli right wing?

The truth is the Arab coalition in this election which included votes from left wing Jews was historic and something refreshing for the future of Israeli democracy.

Third highest vote getting party. That's a big deal.

I wouldn't rule out a coalition with Zionist Union just yet. Forming a coalition lets Bibi walk back some of these extreme right wing words and actions he resorted to in the heated campaign.

Maybe he doesn't want to walk them back. I'm not so sure.

Edited March 18, 2015 by Jingthing

[rambling]

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/talking/62_Blockade.html

Despite the terror onslaught, Israel contunies to supply electricity and water to the Palestinian people, and these plants are sometimes hit by the rockets fired by Hamas from within the Gaza Strip, cutting power to thousands. Since the begining of 2013, over 20,000 truckloads of supplies from Israel have crossed into Gaza for consumption and use by the citizens

---------------------------

Israel doesn't withhold funds from Gaza, The PA do that to try and slow Hamas down. Also the Arab nations pledged billions of aid for Gaza, so far they haven't given anything, Why HAMAS.

You can't accept Gaza isn't part of Israel. Thats OK it really doesn't matter what you think. It has no effect over the situation. But if you are going to make claims try to make sure they have some basis in truth and not just leftist anti Israel BS propaganda.

This is not entirely accurate.

1. Israel has an obligation to provide reasonable living conditions there because it is still under Israeli responsibility as long as Israel controls all the entries and exits and hasn't defined its own borders. This is according to international law.

2. Israel started withholding funds from the PA a few months ago after they went to the Hague.

Your line of thought is what Ariel Sharon expected when he unilaterally pulled out of Gaza without an agreement. It has not worked out well.

Btw the above does not mean the Hamas are not terrorists, they are, and they call on the complete destruction of Israel, all of it, taking everything, to the last inch.

[rambling]

The truth is the Arab coalition in this election which included votes from left wing Jews was historic and something refreshing for the future of Israeli democracy.

I'll be interested to read why you think that.

[Scott]

Well, I see this topic has gotten very nasty, very quickly. It will be closed temporarily, while I remove some nasty posts. It will be open shortly, minus a few poster.

[Scott]

This thread is now being re-opened minus a few posters. The topic is about the election and issues directly related to the election. Off-topic, inflammatory, baiting and troll posts will not be tolerated. The use of inflammatory statements directed at the politicians or at other posters will also not be tolerated. Stay on topic and post in a civil manner.

[up-country_sinclair]

Netanyahu's insatiable ambition forced him to reveal the truth about Israel's true intentions regarding the proposed two state solution.

The one thing I would say to the Israeli voters is that elections have consequences.