Most Likely Outcome: a More Nationalist, Religious Coalition

[rug]

With elections 2 weeks away, polls indicate next government will be tougher against Obama's pressure.

First Publish: 1/6/2013, 6:18 PM
By Gil Ronen

With elections two weeks away, an average of national election polls indicates that U.S. President Barack Obama will have to deal with a more religious and nationalist Israeli government after the polling booths close.

According to the average at the "Knesset Jeremy" website, which is an Israeli version of the well-known Real Clear Politics site covering U.S. elections, there is absolutely no possibility of a leftist coalition if current trends hold.

Assuming the current average reflects the true election results, even a combination of all Jewish leftist parties – Labor, Tzipi Livni, Yesh Atid, Meretz – and the two hareidi parties, Shas and United Torah Judaism, still falls short of the required 61 MK majority, with only 56.6 MKs.

To cross the 60-seat threshold, the leftist coalition would have to enlist the help of the Arab parties. This appears to be beyond the realm of possibility, and would cause a huge rebellion inside Yesh Atid and Shas. Even parts of Israel's ultra-liberal media would come out vehemently against such a move.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/163912

[vilify]

1. To hell with them. we don't need them for anything.

[LeftishBrit]

2. Very depressing - but note that IsraelNationalNews is pretty much the Israeli equivalent of a

teabagger site. Basically, it represents the hardline settlers, and is not considered very reliable. They may be indulging in some wishful thinking here.

[rug]

3. It's an interesting counterpoint to what's happening in Egypt.

[cbayer]

4. That's good to know, because this is very disheartening.