Livni: I'll fight to replace Netanyahu's government

[Scurrilous]

Former Kadima chairwoman says next elections vital, will 'determine whether Israel will be a liberal country or a radical, isolated one'

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4224051,00.html

<snip>

"Former Kadima Chairwoman Tzipi Livni urged voters to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, saying that the coming elections "are vital to Israel's character in the coming years."

In her first official statement as a former Knesset member, Livni said Wednesday that "These early elections are a good thing. They will determine whether Israel will be a liberal, progressive and leading country; or a radical, haredi and isolated country.

"This is a fight for Israel's very nature and we have to keep fighting for it, she said."

The former Kadima chair lashed out at Netanyahu further, saying that "For three years Netanyahu's Coalition has isolated Israel and has created a polarized society.

"Things are unbearable. It's time to change this Coalition. We won't give up on this country. I will keep fighting for it and the Coalition must be replaced," she said."

[teddy51]

1. Let's hope she wins before Netanyahu gets the country into a war with Iran! I can't think

of anything that would devastate the Middle East more than an attack on Iran.

[Jefferson23]

3. Haaretz poll: Netanyahu the clear favorite heading to Israel's upcoming elections

According to the poll, Netanyahu is the only candidate with a realistic slot of becoming prime minister after the election slated to take place in another four months.

By Yossi Verter

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu can rest easy after reading the results of the latest Haaretz-Dialog poll: Not only does he trounce all his rivals on the question of who is most fit to lead the country, but an absolute majority of Israelis reject the aspersions cast on him last week by former Shin Bet security service chief Yuval Diskin.

Judging by this poll, Netanyahu is the only candidate with a realistic slot of becoming prime minister after the election slated to take place in another four months.

Asked which candidate is most suited to hold the job, 48 percent of respondents said Netanyahu. That is considerably more support than the other three candidates received put together.

His closest rival, Shelly Yacimovich (Labor ), got only 15 percent support. Next came Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu ) with nine percent, and finally Shaul Mofaz (Kadima ) with six percent. That is a blow to Mofaz, who has been presenting himself as Netanyahu's only realistic rival.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/haaretz-poll-netanyahu-the-clear-favorite-heading-to-israel-s-upcoming-elections-1.427866

[oberliner]

4. This, too, was already posted

Here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11349268

You like Ha'aretz better than Reuters now?

[teddy51]

5. That's disturbing that someone isn't running that can beat Netanyahu! I think he is a

very dangerous individual.

[oberliner]

8. Bush won two terms

Democracies sometimes elect dangerous individuals.

[LeftishBrit]

11. And Thatcher won three

In all these cases, the electoral systems of the countries concerned led to distorted results; but there's no doubt that nasty people can win significant proportions of the votes.

[Jefferson23]

21. It appeared from your first response you were unaware about Livni.

I find those that vote for Netanyahu dangerous...terrible politicians are a dime a dozen.

[teddy51]

22. My point is very simple, lets get rid of anyone that would opt for war as opposed to talking

to the opposition. Second point is, who the hell is Israel to tell Iran that they can't have Nuke's? Pardon me, but Israel has Nukes, and refuses to sign the NPT.

[oberliner]

23. Iran won't talk to Israel

They refuse to have any dealings not only with Israeli leadership but also with rank and file Israelis in sporting competitions and the like. Not sure, given that, how Israel would be able to "talk to the opposition." As for nuclear weapons, the countries that do have them (such as the US) are always telling the countries that don't, that they can't have them. That's actually a generally agreed upon principle (no more nuclear proliferation).

[Jefferson23]

26. Oh I understand....Israel's government officials are a train wreck n/t

[oberliner]

24. Do you think those who voted for Bush were dangerous?

Or do you reserve that term for Israeli voters?

[Jefferson23]

25. Dangerously ignorant, on both questions. n/t

[oberliner]

28. Who would get your support?

Who would you vote for in the upcoming Israeli election if you could?

[oberliner]

2. Are you a Livni fan?

She seems to be not especially popular over there these days.

[LeftishBrit]

9. I'm not a fan; but I'd definitely prefer her toNetanyahu

[oberliner]

10. Would you prefer her to Mofaz?

What do you think of the changing of leadership in Kadima?

[LeftishBrit]

12. I am very uncertain there.

My first thought was 'oh no', because I remembered that Mofaz had spoken quite hawkishly about Iran a few years ago; however some articles (including one that you posted, I think) suggest that he may be more liberal on some issues, and better liked by Arab citizens of Israel.

I think that the nature of the other parties in any coalition that they formed might be more important than whether it was led by Livni or Mofaz.

[oberliner]

13. I don't think Kadima will be in any position to form a coalition

A Labour comeback appears to be more likely according to recent polls. Or the emergence of Lapid's "There is a Future" party (which Livni could wind up backing).

Could be a wild and wooly election (or could be a cakewalk for Likud, hard to say).

Kadima, though, will be lucky to finish in the top 3 and could even drop out of the top 5.

[shaayecanaan]

6. I think Netanyahu has the job for as long as he wants it...

and I think Israel will have right-wing governments as far as the eye can see.

If the left can't gain traction in the wake of a social protest movement that saw 1 in 7 Israelis out on the streets, I don't think that they ever will.

[oberliner]

7. What kind of coalition would you consider not to be right-wing?

If Labor and Kadima were able to lead a governing coalition somehow, would you still consider that to be a right-wing government?

[azurnoir]

14. MKs consider joining Livni if new party formed

A number of Knesset members from Kadima are considering the possibility of resigning from the party to join a new political movement headed by Tzipi Livni, Ynet has learned.

Livni, who headed Kadima until she lost to Shaul Mofaz in the recent primaries, resigned from the Knesset on Tuesday. "With Mofaz at the helm, it is almost certain we will split from the party," one of the lawmakers said.

Kadima won 28 seats in the last Knesset elections, but a recent poll showed it is expected to win only 11 in the next general elections, meaning 17 of the party's members may find themselves out of the next Knesset.

A controversial law passed by the Knesset allows for seven lawmakers from any one faction to break away from their party.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4223374,00.html

so a question does Israel really need another political party, Right, Left, or Center?

[oberliner]

15. They have a new party

Lapid registers new party, 'Yesh Atid'

Former television personality Yair Lapid officially registered his new political party "Yesh Atid" (There is a future) at the party registrar’s office on Monday.

Lapid stated that registering the party marked another step on the path to fulfilling the central goal he set for himself - to establish a large and meaningful political force that will bring about a change in the State of Israel's priorities and "finally" offer real representation for the middle class.

http://www.jpost.com/Headlines/Article.aspx?id=267906&R=R101

[azurnoir]

17. yes I am aware of Yair Lapids new party and his platform is nice for the Israeli middle class too

however what does he say about international politics Iran, Turkey, and Palestine? '

here is more from your link

Two weeks after the party’s original name, Atid (“Future”), was rejected because an inactive Atid party exists, Lapid announced that registering the party is another step towards his goal of “gaining major and significant political power.”


Lapid, a former Channel 2 journalist, wrote in a letter to his supporters that his party will change the order of priorities and truly represent the middle class.

“We established ‘Yesh Atid’ because the Israeli middle class, the class that works and is productive, pays taxes and serves in the army, does not have a voice and no one protects its interests in the matters close to its heart: education, health, transportation, housing, fighting corruption and the cost of living,” Lapid wrote.

He repeated his campaign slogan “Where is the money?” and added that the money exists, but the wrong people spend it on the wrong things.

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=267907

and a bit more

Lapid says he doesn't want 'failed' Livni in party

Yair Lapid said Thursday that he will not invite ousted Kadima leader Tzipi Livni to join his yet-to-be-formed political party.

Responding to his Facebook followers’ calls for him to add Livni to his party’s list, the former Channel 2 news anchor said he has not spoken to Livni for many months.

“As I’ve explained in the past, no senior politician will be in my party,” he wrote. “In the entire world, when politicians fail, they are replaced with new people who have new ideas.”

But Lapid later clarified that he did not intend to call Livni a failure. He wished her well and called her a fair and proper person.

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=264045

[sabbat hunter]

16. Israel needs

the center left (Kadima, labor, this new party) to unite in to one party behind one candidate to oppose Bibi.

the political parties in Israel are very splintered, in part due to how small of a percentage of the vote you need to gain seats in the Knesset.

[azurnoir]

18. but even those parties are fractured it seems

and Lapid does not want Livni in his party see post above, however I do agree about the need for a coalition btw whatever happened with Barak's new party haven't read much about them lately

[oberliner]

19. Barak launches election campaign

Defense Minister Ehud Barak launched his Independence party’s election campaign on Wednesday, hours before coalition sources confirmed the Knesset would be dissolved next week.

Barak insisted that his party will run on its own in the upcoming election, denying rumors he would be given a spot on the Likud candidates list for the Knesset.

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=268373

[azurnoir]

20. Thanks

and he'll run if they make the election threshold

However, a poll by the Dahaf Institute showed on Wednesday that Independence will not pass the 2% elections threshold, as did a Jerusalem Post/Smith research poll last week.

Those predicting Independence’s failure should “look at Kadima two months ago and today,” Barak said.

“Things change; there is no connection between polls and reality.”

Asked by a reporter why the public doesn’t trust him – Barak replied, “I have been in public life for about 15 years. People who were around me then aren’t here anymore. [Former minister] Haim Ramon isn’t here, [former prime minister] Ehud Olmert isn’t here, [former Kadima leader] Tzipi Livni just left. It’s hard to be lonely, but I’m okay.”

http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=268373

so while we're here what do you think about Lapid's chances I remember the controversy about him being a TV anchor and some rightwingers protesting him starting a political ect

[Crunchy Frog]

27. Oh noes! She's sounding alot like Peter Beinart in his new book.

[azurnoir]

29. Naftali Bennett forms new political party

Bennett has been holding intense consultations in the past few days considering whether to run for National Religious Party chairmanship or to form a separate political party. He described the new party as "a young national-Zionist movement uniting both secular and religious Israelis." Bennett said that the party's aim is to bring Zionism back into the national agenda again.

"We shall create a real bridge between the religious and the seculars, who will be joined together by love of the land and Zionism, and a return to our basic values," Bennett said.

"The majority of the Israeli public belongs to the Zionist national camp, and still we are not being taken seriously at the moment of truth. The prime minister is part of this, having appointed a defense minister who is hostile to the settlement enterprise and blocked a bill meant to protect IDF soldiers from foreign organizations."

The former Yesha Council director said that he aims to unite under one umbrella all of the national camp's parties "and create a mighty force that will serve as a counterbalance in the next administration." Bennett's associates claimed that various Likud elements tried to stop his initiative.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4225492,00.html

more about Bennett

http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/59503/man-from-longtime-s.f.-family-now-a-settlement-leader/

[LeftishBrit]

30. In general, any politician anywhere who uses the phrase 'a return to our basic values' ...

tends to be bad news; and that certainly seems to be the case here.

[oberliner]

31. Good news!

If various Likud elements tried to stop his initiative, it's probably good news for the Israeli left.

He seems to be achieving the opposite of his stated goal - dividing, rather than uniting, the national camp's parties.

This could be step one on the road to an electoral surprise.

Perhaps a Labour-Kadima-Yesh Atid alliance?