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Dov Lipman

Dov Lipman

Dov Lipman was elected to the 19th Knesset in January 2013, making him the first American born MK in 30 years. He holds a masters degree from Johns Hopkins University and is the author of seven books about Israel and Judaism.

As the campaign enters its final week with parties shifting direction and messaging in their final push to win more votes, one thing remains for sure: No one knows how this election will end.
Heading a party polling consistently at 10 mandates, Shaked has been open about her nationalist vision for Israel, including the situation in Gaza, Israeli judicial reform and Jewish settlements.
Quite remarkably, Israel has been through 20 smooth transitions of power. And despite the dispersal of the Knesset following Benjamin Netanyahu’s inability to form a majority coalition in April, the mandate to govern has been returned to where it belongs in a democracy: the voters.
With turnout expected to be low, highly motivated religious voters may provide Benjamin Netanyahu with the 61 mandates he needs to form a government.
With both Israel’s right- and left-wing blocs having been unable to secure a coalition following the April election, the Arab parties could represent a significant boost to the left in September should they break their longstanding tradition of remaining outside the government.
Even in round two, neither party has enough support for the 61-mandate majority necessary to form a government. Does it mean that Israel could be headed to a third election cycle, or will some other option emerge?
Perhaps nothing cements support for Israel more than bringing members of Congress to visit Israel’s borders with Syria, Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, and to meet with decision-makers in the region.
“The world is constantly changing. Look at Lebanon. Look at Syria. Things are always in flux in these areas, so how can we choose a solution now without knowing what’s going to happen in a few years?” posed House of Representatives Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
A total of 41 House Democrats and 31 House Republicans are visiting Israel this summer to demonstrate their solidarity with the Jewish state.
Likud’s top 40 candidates for Sept. 17 election sign declaration backing party leader Benjamin Netanyahu as their candidate for prime minister, while pointing out that leaders of parties not chosen by the people via primaries “are the last ones who should be criticizing Likud.”
The deadline for political parties to submit their official lists came and went. While the two largest ones from the previous election—Likud, and Blue and White—largely remain the same, several mergers of smaller parties could factor into the Sept. 17 elections.
New Right Party chair Ayelet Shaked joins with another party to broaden the political home for a range of views that lean their way. It also boosts her chances of re-entering the Knesset.