Israel's Netanyahu Scrambles As Polls Show Rival's Lead Growing

[Purveyor]

Source: LA TIMES

Four days before Israel’s general election, public opinion polls on Friday pointed to a widening lead for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s main rival.

However, the polls also suggested that some 15% of the electorate remained undecided, and Israeli elections are known for substantial last-minute vote swings.

Netanyahu’s camp appeared to take seriously his apparent electoral peril. The prime minister, who until now had made almost no campaign appearances, embarked on a blitz of media interviews and speeches.
Israel election

A series of polls on Friday – the last such surveys that will appear before the vote – showed the center-left Zionist Union, headed by Isaac Herzog, with its largest lead yet, outpolling Netanyahu’s conservative Likud by between two and five seats in the 120-member Knesset, or parliament. In Israel, votes are cast for parties, not individuals.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-israel-election-polls-20150313-story.html

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Next Tuesday's gonna be as fun as the General Election here!

...as long as the Likudnik goes down in flames!!!

[totodeinhere]

27. So did it turn out to be fun? Or were you a bit premature to start dancing on Bibi's

grave?

[Cooley Hurd]

28. It was still fun...

So... you resurrect a post from 5 days ago to slam other DUers? Must be a real peach to be you...

[totodeinhere]

30. So you think that a right wing war monger winning is fun?

I wasn't slamming anyone, but I was pointing out how wrong the poster was in prematurely assuming that Bibi would lose. And in fact to read DU before the election you would think that Bib would be losing in a landslide. Yet when the results come in it's the other way around. I don't know about you but that pisses me off.

[Cooley Hurd]

31. Oh, it pissed me off...

...but to resurrect an old thread to gloat is... well...

Enjoy your Bibi.

[totodeinhere]

32. So let me get this straight. I correctly believed that Bibi would return as prime minister

so that means that I'm gloating about it? Come on now. But it is true that too many at DU make predictions based upon what they wish would happen rather than what will happen. I remember very clearly the threads at DU prior to the 2014 midterms predicting that the Dems would retain control of the Senate.

[ladjf]

2. Netanyahu's loss would be "sweet" justice. nt

[cascadiance]

6. And perhaps more substantive reducing the nuclear threats in that region...

[ladjf]

7. Great photo. Reminds me of Dr. Strange love. nt

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Visions of Bibi's concession speech

Look at him . . . a telegenically repudiated demagogue.

[Fred Sanders]

10. The times they are a changin'.

[tridim]

4. My guess is that this election will be handled in Israel just like Bush v. Gore.

Stolen for the neocon.

[Purveyor]

5. It will be interesting to watch if Netanyahua is rejected by the Israeli voters, indeed.

I'm not sure how this maniac will react to defeat.

Also I'm concerned about a false-flag op any time now...

[cynzke]

25. Some Voters Are Scared....

At what BiBi seems to be stirring up here. A bunch of GOP wingnuts who want a war with Iran. Iran is Israel's enemy. They want to stop Iran's nuclear ambition to build bombs, but a ground war involving the US, could ingulf the entire region in war. That is by far the scariest of all.

[leftynyc]

13. That really can't happen

The system they have their is governed by coalitions. Which is why even if bibi doesn't get the most votes (which happened last time also), the trick is putting together 61 seats to form a government. If Herzog (who I'm rooting for) gets more votes than bibi, he has first crack at putting a coalition together.

[Fred Sanders]

8. From AP:

Associated Press 10:29 a.m. EDT March 13, 2015

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/world/2015/03/13/israel-election-polls/70265448/

Poll results in the Yediot Ahronot newspaper on Friday (today) gave the Zionist Union, comprised of labor and a center-left party, 26 seats over 22 for Netanyahu’s hawkish Likud party.

It polled 1,032 people with a margin of error of 2.5 percent. Other polls had similar results.

The March 17 election is widely seen as a vote of confidence in Netanyahu, whose campaign mainly focuses on security. But after years of rapidly increasing living costs, many Israelis are turning to dovish and centrist parties that focus on social and economic issues.

[srican69]

9. Maybe he should release an Ad showing Republicans lining up to kiss his butt and remind

Israelis that this is the Butt they need on the PM's chair

[erronis]

14. Maybe Boner is working his way down there

Sucking up to Bibi:



Via: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026345095

[srican69]

16. The imagery in my mind is repulsive

[Eleanors38]

11. He oughta run here and make it official. nt

[father founding]

12. Who me ?

Heard he had a direct line to Diebold installed.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

15. The spread in the NY Times

today of the Israeli settlements is pretty depressing. But let's focus: if Bibi is out next week, will our joy over that be eclipsed by a win for Mayor Chuy next month? Can we handle such fabulous outcomes in such close proximity?

Why, YES!

[totodeinhere]

17. Those polls are encouraging but don't pop the champagne corks yet.

The results of those polls may encourage voters who were planning on voting for some of the smaller right wing parties to reconsider and decide to vote for Likud in order to keep the center left out of power. And four days is a long time in Israeli politics. We shall see.

[Fred Sanders]

26. Bibi suddenly doing an about face on appearances and his new Congress ads smacks of desperation.

His speeches dripping with fear and doom and gloom do not make him a good speaker, using fear and doom and gloom can make anyone seem a good speaker, just keep talking about Bogeymen.

Obama, in contrast, does not use fear, he uses logic...he is a far, far better and charismatic speaker .....because he is not evil inside.

[totodeinhere]

29. Not to be bragging but it looks like I was right. I never for one minute believed that

Bibi would actually lose. I'm afraid that too many DU posters were wearing rose colored glasses. Not only did Bibi win but he will most likely form a new government that is even more right sing than the present one. Yesterday was not good day for those of us who support world peace.

[SoapBox]

18. I hope it's bad news after voting day...

For one of the worlds biggest assholes.

[louis-t]

19. Bibi needs to get on the bat-phone to

Sheldon Adelson.

[BeyondGeography]

20. Apparently, those notoriously subversive Scandinavian gov'ts are at it again

http://www.thelocal.no/20150313/scandinavia-accused-of-meddling-in-israel-vote

[realFedUp]

21. Bah bah Bibi

Good riddance. At least he never got Saddamed by the U.S. The first Republican loss of the year?

[frylock]

22. look for a forthcoming "catastrophic and catalyzing event" to take place

[BeanMusical]

23. I wouldn't be surprised.

[nilesobek]

24. The Prime Minister

is charismatic and an excellent speaker. Also, his war record is notable. He might have went too far this time. No nation wants to be embarrassed. He could be replaced.