Israel's Netanyahu Declares Victory In Tight Election

[DonViejo]

Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared victory after a tight national election appeared to give him the upper hand in forming the country's next coalition government.

In a statement released on Twitter, Netanyahu says that "against all odds" his Likud party and the nationalist camp secured a "great victory."

Initial exit polls showed Netanyahu's Likud Party deadlocked with the center-left Zionist Union. But the results indicated that Netanyahu will have an easier time cobbling together a majority coalition with hard-line and religious allies.

Netanyahu said he had already begun to call potential partners.

###

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/world-news/benjamin-netanyahu-israel-parliament-election

[still_one]

1. Not sure what the final results will be, but Netanyahu has caused considerable damage to Israel,

and I suspect that damage will only get worse

Until his opponent concedes, I won't take this as a fact

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Shit. I was hoping he'd get his ass handed to him.

[still_one]

4. It was never going to be that, but the results are not over, and it is much more complicated than

AP would like people to believe.

It is NOT a sure victory for Netanyahu

[Blue State Bandit]

53. This is when a strong statement or ground swell from the US can make a difference...

I wouldn't be so comfortable with the suggestion of a push by the administration and congressional leadership if BiBi wasn't so audacious in his latest attempt to push ours, but a stark conversation should be commencing post-haste between our countries on all levels.

For me, if Israel wants BiBi and his quest for the hell of war, don't expect us to pay for the ride.

[3catwoman3]

6. You beat me...

...to it.

[Adrahil]

15. Me too...

If he follows through with these threats of backing away from the two-state solution and building like mad in East Jerusalem, I sure hope Obama cuts off aid immediately.

[BeanMusical]

32. He will "mow the lawn" far more aggressively too, I'm afraid.

[Dont call me Shirley]

3. A sad day for Peace.

[geek tragedy]

5. Time for our "unshakeable bond" with Israel to be cut completely.

That rightwing, racist apartheid society is alien to our values.

[Scootaloo]

20. Naw, we'll keep subsidizing their destruction of Palestine no matter what

Can't have Muslims claiming space in Jesus' Landing Pad.

[blkmusclmachine]

50. ^Sadly, this.^

[MosheFeingold]

36. Do you even know what "apartheid" is?

Arab Israelis are full citizens of Israel. They make up roughly 1/3 the population.

They vote (including women) in Israel. They get free college. All the same rights as Jewish residents of Israel, plus various types of affirmative action.

The ONLY distinction between Jewish (and Druze and recently Christian Arabs) citizens of Israel is Muslim Arabs are not subject to the draft --- but can join the military if they wish (and many do, especially Bedouins).

In fact, Christian Arabs in Israel (there are few in the PA because they were going to get killed and so came to Israel) have the highest education and highest per capita income of any group in Israel. Moslem Israeli Arabs have similar economic status as Jewish people (excepting Bedouins who are still very much a nomadic people and have generally chosen a non-modern life).

Arabs in Israel can be Moslem, Christian, nothing, and even Jewish if they wish. They can be gay. They can even be gay and civilly married*! They can convert. They have freedom of speech. They have freedom of travel.

If they were in any other surrounding country, they would be killed for any of this.

Seriously, stop it with the "apartheid" talk. There are all sorts of issues in Israel, but apartheid is not one of them.

* Marriage is a strictly religious rite in Israel (not mixed civil/government like in the USA), so you have civil unions. A Muslim or Christan Clerical organization would have to approve a gay marriage, which is unlikely.

[geek tragedy]

37. So your story is that Arabs have more advantages than Jews do in Israel?

They vote (including women) in Israel. They get free college. All the same rights as Jewish residents of Israel, plus various types of affirmative action.

Israel's governing coalition will include not fewer than four explicitly racist parties:

Jewish Home
Likud
Yisrael Beitenu
Yahad

[MosheFeingold]

40. Who said I was a fan of the governing cooalition?

Seriously, if your position is that a country is horrible because it contains the occasional wing-nut asshole, then I think you should be in favor of nuclear war to end us as a species because everywhere is like that.

Try the PA, for example, that is Judenfrei -- they killed or expelled all their Jews.

[geek tragedy]

41. Occasional wing-nut asshole?

That describes the majority of non-Arab Israelis.

Likud
Yisrael Beitenu
Yahad
Jewish Home
Shas
UTJ

between them got a majority of the non-Arab vote in Israel.

They just re-elected a guy BECAUSE HE PROMISED THEM MORE RACISM AND APARTHEID.

[MosheFeingold]

44. Your post doesn't even make sense

Are you talking about the dispute with the neighboring Palestinians?

Or are you claiming that Arabs in Israel are systematically discriminated against by the government, as was done in South Africa?

If the first, reasonable minds differ, and I tend to agree with you (although with Hamas in charge of the PA there is little to be done).

If the second, you're simply mistaken.

[geek tragedy]

55. Benjamin Netanyahu won because he promised Israeli Jews that the occupation

would never end. And because he engaged in explicitly racist rhetoric.

That is what turned the tide for him.

Israeli voters WANT their government to be more racist. They WANT to keep the Palestinians penned up like animals. They WANT apartheid--they want to strip each and every Palestinian of the right to vote and self-determination.

And they want a war with Iran.

They are every bad thing we say about the Republicans.

The part of the Israeli public that resembles the Democratic Party in the US is smaller than the part that voted for a guy who called for Israeli Arabs to be beheaded.

Alabama is more progressive than Israel. And it's not even close.

[Scootaloo]

57. While this is all very charming...

The reality is, 20% of Israel's population has no meaningful representation in their government.

The reality is, another three million people live under Israeli rule with absolutely no say in how that rule is conducted. Needless to say that rule is conducted in a manner wholly detrimental to their lives and well-being.

The reality is, those bedouin are regarded as "less than" Jews, their homes subject to demolition so that jews can move in (see Prawer Plan)

Apartheid is a reality in Israel, and it is quite clear you are a big fan of it.

[George II]

7. What an arrogant prick. Let's see how it REALLY goes. Many analysts say that....

...it could be weeks before they know the final results.

[BlueStater]

8. I wonder which one of the Repukes will suck his pecker first.

[TheCowsCameHome]

13. Bibi stroked an big orange boehner a few weeks ago.

[walkingman]

43. Texas Senator Ted Cruz

and the GOP war mongers will line up.

[MosheFeingold]

45. Cruz is a scary dude

He's very, very intelligent. I've met him. But he drank the cool aid.

I wonder how someone so smart can be so wrong.

[walkingman]

54. There’s no need to keep falling for it.

Nobody with "walk around" sense could possibly be such an arrogant asshole. I know a few Cruz supporters and I use that as a guide for the type of folks who would support such a person.

[Cooley Hurd]

9. Every news source I'm looking at is calling it too close to call...

If I were Bibi, I'd hold off on declaring victory.

[geek tragedy]

10. he was a slight favorite to form the next government even if they lost by several seats.

With such a strong showing (blech), he'll be forming the next government, with the extreme rightwing--Jewish Home, Shas, UTJ, Kulanu, and probably Yesh Atid thrown in as a hood ornament.

Sorry, but the Israelis have spoken, and they spoke something very foul indeed.

[KamaAina]

18. Kulanu is extreme right-wing?

And with 12 seats projected, Yesh Atid is hardly a "hood ornament". In fact, they could threaten to monkeywrench the whole thing by jumping ship, in return for ???

[Scootaloo]

21. They joined the right last time

Hair will probably sign off both his kidneys if it means he gets to stand in front of a camera for twenty minutes.

[geek tragedy]

23. What's Herzog's path to 61?

Arab parties have already said they're not going to be part of a coalition.

So, Atid plus Herzog/Livni plus Meretz gets you to about 45.

Most likely still seems to be Likud+Jewish home+Kulanu+Yesh Atid+(some combination of UTJ+Shas+Yisrael Beteinu)
Pretty much the legion of doom.

[KamaAina]

26. "Arab parties have already said they're not going to be part of a coalition."

That doesn't sound very wise. They, too, would have a great deal of bargaining power. And wouldn't they have an interest in toppling Likud?

[Kurska]

27. Arab parties have long said they won't join a coalition with any "zionist" party

Which is every other party in the election, even the hard left Meretz.

[KamaAina]

31. Well, that would explain why they don't have any clout, wouldn't it?

They do not seem to grasp how a parliamentary system works. There is, of course, no scenario in which they gain an outright majority.

[geek tragedy]

28. They would--but they've said they're not going to participate in the occupation, which is what

belonging to the ruling coalition would mean.

It raises the question of why the hell are they running in the first place, though.

[sabbat hunter]

49. Kulanu is

center right and not far right.

[geek tragedy]

56. It's a Likud splinter group.

That Likudnik refuseniks can be considered part of the center shows just how rightwing the entire country is.

[blkmusclmachine]

51. Does Israel have Diebold/SES or some other Corporation "counting" the votes???

[sabbat hunter]

11. I agree

polls are showing a dead heat with both likud and Zionist Camp having either the same amount of seats, or perhaps a one seat majority for one or the other. From there it would be who can convince the president to be given the first shot at forming a coalition.

Yair Lapid and Moshe Kahlon have no love for Bibi. Without their support, it will be very hard for bibi to get to 61 seats.

[SoCalMusicLover]

12. Right Wing Always Win The Close Elections

Funny how that works, isn't it? When the left wins, it's usually a clear victory by several percentage points.

Not saying anything is fishy, but close races always open themselves to being stolen.

[Yonx]

14. It's tight

We don't fully know yet.

[TheNutcracker]

16. Stop the funding. NOW

[Cooley Hurd]

17. Well, CNN is calling it... wait for it...

TOO CLOSE TO CALL...

Exit polls: Israel election too close to call

[geek tragedy]

19. I thought it was for the "where's the plane" party nt

[Cooley Hurd]

25. That was too Far to call...

[mahina]

22. AP skews facts to the right again.

As they have so often here.

[mountain grammy]

24. Preparing myself for bad news

Hoping for better.

[LeftishBrit]

29. Still all to play for

Pity he didn't get totally and unceremoniously DUMPED; but there's still plenty of horse-trading to be done; and a good chance that he won't be able to form a government. Here's hoping!!!

[Luke Zee]

30. Now I know how Romney supporters felt on Election Night 2012

I was so convinced the Nut 'n Yahoo was going down to defeat.

But I'm not gonna step into the ring with Holyfield!

[BeanMusical]

33. Interesting comment:

"Looks like Bibi is going for Bush 2000 redux: declare victory and try to make it a fait accompli.
—
Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) March 17, 2015"

http://news.nationalpost.com/2015/03/17/last-israelis-dash-to-vote-before-polls-close-as-netanyahu-awaits-his-fate/

[NV Whino]

34. Of course he does

Let's send over the Bush boys and Katherine Harris to count chads.

[iamthebandfanman]

35. Glad I dont live there...

what a terrible choice to pick from..
you can either go with the left LEANING (they are center-left) Zionist (ick) party..
or you can choose the right wing fascist nationalist party ...

jesus.

[geek tragedy]

38. The most rational choice for liberal/progressive Israelis is to move to New York nt

[iamthebandfanman]

42. unfortunate

that the actual leftist secular party has no chance (there is actually a leftist party in Israel that believes in withdrawal from the west bank even called Meretz).

guess you have to be some form of Zionist to win :p

[Mosby]

47. wow, i guess we all know where you stand via Israel

Going to bookmark this post for posterity. Do you think Israel should exist at all?

Your obviously not aware of the fact that Israel is far more progressive than the US, despite the religious influence, in fact those "extreme right wing" israeli parties as you call them, support universal health care, free college education and a broad social welfare system, something many Liberal american politicians don't support.


geek tragedy
38. The most rational choice for liberal/progressive Israelis is to move to New York nt

[geek tragedy]

48. It's very progressive if you don't mention the theocracy

and the apartheid.

Israel's days as a Jewish democracy are numbered. When they run out, liberal Israelis will have to make their choice.

The rightwing Israeli electorate eliminated Jewish democracy as an option for all future generations.

Apartheid or a majority Arab binational state. Those are the choices.

[MosheFeingold]

39. There are many, many more parties

Israeli politics are like chess. Likud is center-right. The Zionist Union is a mix of center-left and left and was a pretty new creation more-or-less for this election.

To the right of Likud you have Jewish Home. To the left of ZU, you have a whole host of groups.

Then you have a lot of single-issue or specific group parties -- Arab parties, Shas, etc.

There is a home for everyone, but to get a majority in the Knesset (which is basically a parliamentary system), they make various coalitions and end up more-or-less center, but sometimes real right or left on a given issue in order to get a certain party to join in.

+++++

As an aside, the reason Bibi (probably) pulled this off was Tzipi Livni, one of the heads of ZU.

She is a really, really, unpleasant and amoral person. (I have to be careful because I actually got a post blocked by describing her with a rather more colorful phrase.)

She has had more positions on the issues than Myth Romney.

She used to BE TO THE RIGHT of Bibi (like last year), but then shifted left when the winds of change came in. In short, she takes whatever position she wants to get elected.

In fact, she was such a drag on the ticket, the ZU dropped her from the ticket YESTERDAY. This would be like Obama dropping Biden on November 10 before an election. Really, really created bad buzz.

[840high]

46. Interesting.

[sabbat hunter]

52. neither

Moshe Kahlon nor Yair Lapid like Bibi very much, if they can be convinced to not join a Bibi led coalition, bibi would be short of a majority, even if he gets the religious and far right wing parties to join him. 30+8+7+7+6=58

Even if the Joint Arab list refuses to join a coalition, (which is stupid IMHO, because if they are involved, teh religious parties would get locked out of a ZU led coalition, and it would benefit both Israeli Arabs and Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza)

But if they won't join, and Lapid and Kahlon join ZU, ZU could form a coalition, if they agree to have the religious parties, who are usually mainly concerned that their schools get money and men in their YEshiva's are exempt from the draft.
24+11+10+7+7+4=63.
An alternative is that the JAL agree to support a ZU led government, without actually joining the government, in exchange I am sure for favors of some kind. That way the religious parties could get locked out of government.

Another possibility is that neither Bibi or Herzog are able to cobble together a coalition, and new elections are called.