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| Thread: Elections in Israel? |  This thread is pages long: 1 2 3 4 · NEXT» |
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mvassilev
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posted August 02, 2008 04:57 PM |
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Elections in Israel?
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JERUSALEM (AP) — A day after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert announced he would depart political life, top rival Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel should get rid of its current governing coalition and go straight to early elections.
Polls show the Likud Party's Netanyahu — a former prime minister who takes a hard line on territorial concessions to the Arabs — would most likely win such a race if it were held today. Olmert threw Israel's political system into turmoil on Wednesday by abruptly announcing he would step down after his Kadima Party's leadership race in September, called because of a series of corruption allegations against him.
"This is a government that has come to the end of its road," Netanyahu told Israel Radio on Thursday. "It doesn't make any difference who heads Kadima, they are all part to a string of failures by this government."
"The right thing to do when the prime minister goes is ... to let the people choose who will lead them and whoever is chosen, he is the one who will need to put together a government," Netanyahu said.
The internal turmoil could make it difficult for Olmert to close deals with either the Palestinians or Syria — agreements that long have eluded Israeli leaders.
"The Arabs are asking themselves how useful an agreement with Olmert would be, because he is a self-proclaimed lame duck and he will have a hard time to get his deals approved," said Yossi Alpher, an Israeli political analyst.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki said Olmert's decision would change little.
"It's true that Olmert was enthusiastic about the peace process, and he spoke about this process with great attention, but this process has not achieved any progress or breakthrough," Malki said. He said the Palestinians would deal with any Israeli government.
The top two contenders to succeed Olmert in Kadima are Livni, a centrist who enjoys widespread public support and is leading Israeli negotiations with the Palestinians, and Shaul Mofaz, a hawkish former defense minister and military chief who headed Israel's security operations when it put down a Palestinian uprising eight years ago.
Public opinion surveys show Livni polling strong, but Mofaz gaining strength within Kadima and Netanyahu generally trumping them both.
Livni is in Washington this week and hasn't yet commented publicly on Israeli media since Olmert announced he would quit.
Mofaz told Israeli Radio on Thursday that he doesn't favor early elections.
"It is in the country's interest to form the broadest possible government in order to stabilize the situation and to face the challenges Israel can expect," he said.
Those challenges include peacemaking with the Palestinians and Syria, and the Iranian nuclear threat.
I wonder what our Israeli members think about this.
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TnT_Addict
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posted August 02, 2008 05:12 PM |
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Very simple Mvass...
As a rightwinger myself I can't wait to see Netanyahu becomming prime minister again, in the last elections I admit as do many more to having made a huge mistake. It was all because "Kadima" with Olmert was the closest to the right wing and Olmert was supposed to be Sharons heir and continue in his footsteps.
However, Olmert is a lier, a thief, a criminal that should be put behind bars for tens of fraud cases that are oppened against him, if he would have said that he would like to run for minister again I don't think that he have any chance in being elected in "Kadima" not to speak of the elections themselves.
Not to mention the whole 2nd Lebanon war where he and his right hand man who had no idea what the hell are binoculars messed up big time.
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Lexxan
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posted August 02, 2008 05:38 PM |
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I don't know much about Olmert. I have the impression that he isn't a good leader for Israel (I think they deserve better). The way he came to power represents more to a Hereditairy monarchy that a republican democracy. Anyway, He also commited a number of faux-pas (this includes naming his country in a list of Nuclear Powers (like Pakistan and North Korea), not that was a surprise, but still a big mistake)
If Elections come, I hope Israel get a better leader.
(my 2 cents  )
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mvassilev
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posted August 02, 2008 06:08 PM |
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It's true that Olmert is pretty corrupt, but I don't want Netanyahu either. If Netanyahu is elected, there will be a war with Iran. If I were the President of the US, then I'd inform Israel that they wouldn't get a cent of aid when Likud is in power.
The best possible scenario is for Shinui to come to power, but that's not going to happen.
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Lexxan
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posted August 02, 2008 06:14 PM |
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If I were the President of the US, then I'd inform Israel that they wouldn't get a cent of aid when Likud is in power.
That is virtually impossible. The Jewish/Israelian society simply WOULDN'T allow that. And I believe that they are quite powerfull in America too. Still, I'm not in favour with a war in Iran either, now with the situations in Iraq are improving and those in Afganistan are worsening.
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mvassilev
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posted August 02, 2008 06:26 PM |
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It's better than the US going to war with Iran over the actions of Israel.
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Geny
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posted August 02, 2008 06:37 PM |
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It's true that Olmert is pretty corrupt, but I don't want Netanyahu either. If Netanyahu is elected, there will be a war with Iran.
That's exactly what I fear as well. I tried to define my political views, but I guess that compared to Netanyahu, I'm more of a centrist. That being said, I voted Likud in the last elections because I thought it to be the "lesser evil" out of the three main parties. But now, when there's so much tension on the foreign front, I may prefer to vote for some small party like the "greens" or just against all.
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posted August 02, 2008 06:38 PM |
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The best possible scenario is for Shinui to come to power, but that's not going to happen.
Shinui is the biggest disappointment in all Israels political history 
They've promissed to change 101 things about how the goverment works but after the elections they gave into corruption, money and power.
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mvassilev
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posted August 02, 2008 06:49 PM |
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They've promissed to change 101 things about how the goverment works but after the elections they gave into corruption, money and power.
The old crooks got thrown out, had time to sit in the wilderness and cool their heads, and now it's time for them to come back and throw the new crooks (Kadima) out. At least Shinui wants to secularize Israel.
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But now, when there's so much tension on the foreign front, I may prefer to vote for some small party like the "greens" or just against all.
Here's my advice: better a crook than a Fascist.
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Lexxan
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posted August 02, 2008 06:55 PM |
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But now, when there's so much tension on the foreign front, I may prefer to vote for some small party like the "greens" or just against all.
Here's my advice: better a crook than a Fascist
I dunno, Mvass. Both are Extremely bad. You know, all this mayhem makes me nearly vomit when I think of politics. It one game of Corruption, Power and Dishonour (and in Belgium people MUST vote  )
What kind of party is Likud, anyway?
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Geny
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posted August 02, 2008 06:57 PM |
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First of all, I wouldn't go as far as calling Netanyahu a fascist. (I agree in general however)
Second, I don't give a damn what Olmert or some one else did 15 years ago, and I'm even willing to forgive an official taking some money into his own pockets as long the country is prospering. The problem is that the country is far from prosperity. You may not see it from the outside, but things are really bad here, especially economically, and the government hasn't done a thing to make it better (in fact they only made matters worse). I want a government that can function and make good decisions, instead of only appointing investigation groups and making excuses for why things are bad.
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Lexxan
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posted August 02, 2008 07:09 PM |
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Well, if it cheers you up, things aren't all pink and fluffy around here. Politicians are almost constantly bickering (more than usual I mean), making the Stability of the Country drop dramatically, which makes our Economy suffer greatly. And the country is about to be divided in two parts, to top it all.
Israel's situation seems as bad (or even a tiny bit worse) than ours, I hope for you that everything will be alright someday. (and it WILL ofc)
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mvassilev
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posted August 02, 2008 07:28 PM |
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Lexxan:
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in Belgium people MUST vote
Compulsory voting makes as much sense as the death penalty for attempted suicide.
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What kind of party is Likud, anyway?
A crazy one. They're the ideological descendants of Ze'ev Jabotinsky, who was known as the "Jewish Hitler", and who claimed to have invented the Brown Shirt uniform before Hitler got the idea. Likud was against removing Israeli settlements from Gaza. They adhere to Revisionist Zionism, and want Israel to look like this:
Of course not all Likud members want that, but the party claims the adhere to Revisionist Zionism, and that is its goal.
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And the country is about to be divided in two parts, to top it all.
It's been "about to be divided" for ages.
Geny:
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I want a government that can function and make good decisions, instead of only appointing investigation groups and making excuses for why things are bad.
For that, Israel will have to get its own economy, and not live on US aid. And it'll have to stop subsidizing people that don't work and only pray.
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Lexxan
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posted August 02, 2008 07:37 PM |
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in Belgium people MUST vote
Compulsory voting makes as much sense as the death penalty for attempted suicide.
Believe, me that is one of the LEAST absurd judgemental things in Belgium. How about a fine of €150 (around 200$) for driving to fast on the motorway? How about 5 months probation for Sexual intimidation? How about 1 one year Jail for Armed robbery? 5 years (maximumly) for homicide. Believe me, Belgium is on juristical grounds oan insane country. but let's not drift away from the topic.
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What kind of party is Likud, anyway?
A crazy one
What else isn't new?
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They're the ideological descendants of Ze'ev Jabotinsky, who was known as the "Jewish Hitler", and who claimed to have invented the Brown Shirt uniform before Hitler got the idea. Likud was against removing Israeli settlements from Gaza. They adhere to Revisionist Zionism, and want Israel to look like this:
Of course not all Likud members want that, but the party claims the adhere to Revisionist Zionism, and that is its goal.
I understand now. So infact they are a right-wing, conservative, and fanatically Zionist Party?
What about the other Parties?
(you don't need to tell me about Kadima, I know that that was Sharon's one-man show (and for a few years a no-man show))
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mvassilev
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posted August 02, 2008 07:53 PM |
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So infact they are a right-wing, conservative, and fanatically Zionist Party?
Hmm... I wouldn't exactly say that they're conservative, because they aren't a particularly religious party. And not all of their followers are fanatically Zionist. But they claim to adhere to Revisionist Zionism, which is.
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What about the other Parties?
Well, going by the parties in the current Knesset, by number of seats:
Kadima - a centrist liberal party formed by former Likud and Labour members. Supports a Palestinian state. Supports reducing religious influence on the state.
Labour - a social democratic party.
Likud - a right-wing Revisionist Zionist party.
Shas - religious populists.
Yisrael Beiteinu - wants to tranfer Arabs into a Palestinian state, and take a harder line in negotiations with Muslim states.
National Religious Party - self-explanatory.
Gil - party of pensioners, citizens of a certain age, and other terms for old geezers.  Also somewhat traditionalist.
Meretz-Yachad - a social democratic green party. Wants a Palestinian state. Supports separation of religion and state.
United Arab List - Israeli Arab party. Supports a Palestinian state with East Jersualem as the capital.
Hadash - Communist Party. Non-Zionist. Supports returning to pre-1967 borders.
Balad - Israeli Arab party. Supports a return to pre-1967 borders, with the areas given up forming a Palestinian state, and giving refugees the right of return.
And, the most interesting (IMO) of the non-Knesset parties:
Shinui - Secular liberal anti-clerical party. Supports complete separation of religion and state. Supports privatization. Supports a Palestinian state.
(Parties in bold are members of the ruling coalition.)
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Lexxan
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posted August 02, 2008 08:25 PM |
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You sure know a lot about it, Mvass, and you don't even live in Israel
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mvassilev
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posted August 02, 2008 09:14 PM |
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Wikipedia + a few books + a general interest in politics = my knowledge in this area People who live in Israel are free to correct me if I'm wrong, though.
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posted August 02, 2008 09:38 PM |
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Heh how funny to see this post here about politics in israel..
Sorry but i cannot contribute anything since politics is of no interest to me , Mainly because i believe democracy and the current goverment structure is a rather pathetic form of goverance , I truly believe there is exactly zero real effect in voting as the way things are now.
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mvassilev
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posted August 02, 2008 10:21 PM |
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posted August 02, 2008 11:45 PM |
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Heh how funny to see this post here about politics in israel..
Sorry but i cannot contribute anything since politics is of no interest to me , Mainly because i believe democracy and the current goverment structure is a rather pathetic form of goverance , I truly believe there is exactly zero real effect in voting as the way things are now.
would that be specificly towards Israel or any goverment in that direction?
@mVs: much on wiki is wrong,dont relay on it,ever since what happen in 'bodys deal'i stoped fallowing politics,and im drafting soon,so i lost care. i dont fight for country,but for the safty of loved ones.
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