TV exit polls show Netanyahu likely to retain premiership

[brooklynite]

Source: Times of Israel

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. on Tuesday as Israeli citizens headed for the ballots to vote for Israel’s 20th Knesset, bringing a heated campaign season to a close. Polls from the end of last week left options open for a tight race. TV exit polls were published at 10 p.m., as polling stations closed, after which official results began to roll in. The official final results won’t be publicized until Thursday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Likud, vying for the role for his fourth time (third consecutively), made a last-ditch attempt over the past days to win back voters mainly from the right-wing bloc, vowing Monday night to block a Palestinian state should he remain in office.

Unlike years past, analysts said the race between Likud and Zionist Union, the two leading factions, was too close to call with confidence; the real drama may come in the next few days, as smaller parties make recommendations for prime minister, swaying each side’s ability to form a coalition. Among the possible kingmakers are the upstart Kulanu party, the Arab Joint List, which brought together the main Arab parties for the first time, and the ultra-Orthodox Shas party.





Read more: http://www.timesofisrael.com/ballot-stations-open-as-israelis-choose-new-leadership/

[mahina]

1. Haaretz: Exit polls: Zionist Union and Likud neck and neck at 27 seats

http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel-election-2015/1.647304

10:00 P.M. Exit polls: Zionist Union and Likud neck and neck at 27 seats, slight lead for Likud

Channel 10 and Channel 1 both gave Likud and Zionist Union 27 Knesset seats, while Channel 2's exit poll gave 28 seats to Likud, and 27 to Zionist Union. Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein said final tally may not be published until Friday. (Haaretz)

9:28 P.M. Zionist Union "very carefully optimistic," officials say

Officials in the Zionist Union voiced "very careful optimism" with their projections of the election results. A party official said the voter turnout in their bases have been relatively good.

The far right Yahad party, however, issued an urgent call to its supporters, calling on them to go vote as their polls show they are only 1,500 short of crossing the electoral threshold. (Ido Efrati)

[srican69]

2. fuck .. not good news.

[MosheFeingold]

12. what will happen

Is a weakened Likud (which is really just center-right) will have to ally itself with more wing nut fringey parties like Jewish Home and a couple of more of its type and actually MOVE RIGHT to obtain a government.

Hence why Bibi came out strong against a Palestinian State yesterday.

(Bibi's consistent position was always pro-Palestinian State, provided they give up their demand that Israel cease to exist and the Jews leave all of Israel --- which was already an empty offer, as he knew full well that Hamas and the radicals that actually run the PA would never give up the demand for ethnic cleansing of the entire area of Jews.)

[AlbertCat]

3. Netanyahu likely to retain premiership

Y'see, when he went back to Israel after his little act in Congress... he took the American electorate from our last election with him.

[Politicalboi]

4. I hope not

I guess people in Israel are just as dumb as the people of the US. Voting for warmongers and people who would cut your throat in a heartbeat.

[winstars]

5. Just as dumb, voting against there own interests....

[Politicalboi]

24. It's amazing

I just don't get it. I hope we reconsider our support $$$ to Israel if NutnYahoo wins.

[Yonx]

26. Exit polls have a margin of error

People think they are perfect.

[Ellipsis]

6. Exit polls by two Israeli broadcasters gave both sides 27 seats each

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-31933326

Israel election: No clear winner, exit polls suggest

Neither Israel's governing Likud party nor the opposition Zionist Union has a clear lead in Israel's general election, exit polls suggest.

Exit polls by two Israeli broadcasters gave both sides 27 seats each in the 120-seat parliament, the Knesset.

Both sides would need support from other parties in order to form a coalition government.

More than 65% of those eligible voted in the election, which ended at 22:00 local time (20:00 GMT).

Final results are not expected until Wednesday morning.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could become Israel's longest-serving leader if he secures a fourth term.



Live ELection Results

http://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-middle-east-31928536?live_variant=nonjs

[e-cigdub]

8. keep an eye on kulanu

Guys keep an eye on kulanu,

They are generally considered more conservative, but from my understanding many of the members care more about social issues and bringing down the cost of living then foreign policy. herschog can strike a secret deal with them and give the finance ministry to the leader of kulanu. If kulanu sides with herschog then bibi could be ousted at premier. THIS IS NOT A DONE DEAL!!!!

[Jack Rabbit]

9. That would be very disappointing

The Middle East, especially Israel/Palestine, will be doomed.

[stevenleser]

10. I desperately hope this is wrong.

Netanyahu has to go.

[totodeinhere]

22. For what it's worth, CNN is saying that Bibi will almost certainly form the

next government. Sorry.

[DavidDvorkin]

11. On the bright side

Labor is back, the Arab Joint List is now an important force, and this new Netanyahu coalition is unlikely to last long.

[HomerRamone]

13. Do they have unverifiable voting machines over there, too? nt

[brooklynite]

16. No - they have 27 ballots (1 for each party and one blank) for each voter.

You put the party ballot of your choice in an envelope and drop it in the box.

[Renew Deal]

14. Here's another chart

[e-cigdub]

20. parties list

Left Wing
zoinist union 27 seats
The join arab list 13 seats
meretz 5 seats

Center/secular (WE NEED THIS GROUP!)
Yesh atid 12 seats

Right wing
Likud 27
beytenu 5
united torah judiasm 6
Shas 7

Kulanu (considered right way BUT A WILD CARD)

This is the key here.. We need kulanu to side with us. and oust bibi.

The great news about all of this? the crazy right wing bennett showed terrible results.

[calimary]

28. Welcome to DU, e-cigdub!

Glad you're here. I am NOT glad about this result, if this is how it holds. Granted, all the votes aren't counted yet.

But SHEESH I hate to see bad behavior rewarded, or reinforced in any way. I mean - would you raise your kid that way?

[m-lekktor]

15. bleh.

[Helen Borg]

17. Too close to call, NYC saiz

In any case, if they elect NutYahoo, they deserve what they will get. No other way to put it, really.

[totodeinhere]

18. This is a comeback for Bibi since polls showed Likud losing by about three seats.

So if this result holds Bibi will probably form a government even more right wing than the present one. It's not a good day for those of us who support a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palistinain conflict.

[Luke Zee]

19. Barney Frank Says Netanyahu And The GOP Want War With Iran

Former Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Senate Republicans really just want to go to war with Iran.

“It's true of Benjamin Netanyahu and it's true of them, they want war. This notion of 'Hey we don't like this deal, we want a better deal.' Well how are you going to get one?" Frank said Tuesday in an interview on HuffPost Live. "First of all, they make it harder for the president to get a deal."

Video at link.

[totodeinhere]

21. And Barney Frank would be correct.

If the GOP could win the 2016 presidential election while Bibi or another right wing Israeli holds the premiership, God help us.

[Luke Zee]

25. You got it

"Hi-ho, hi-ho, off to Iran we go!"

[geek tragedy]

23. Well, at least now the US can stop with the peace process farce and

stop protecting this virulently racist, apartheid state.

[geek tragedy]

27. Yachad may have broken the threshold after all, which will certainly help Netanyahu

assemble his racist legion of doom coalition.