Israeli Elections
“It’s about balancing values,” says Yamina Party co-leader Naftali Bennett. “What do we do during half a year if we have rockets from Hezbollah and no prime minister? Israel is not Luxembourg.”
At the last weekly Cabinet meeting before national elections, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his pledge to annex the Jordan Valley, noting that the release of the Trump administration’s Mideast peace plan is imminent.
Only 32 percent of Israel’s Arab citizens intend to vote, 80.5 percent of them for the Joint List, according to a new poll. Nearly a quarter of respondents said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is most suited to lead the country.
Likud says rampant Arab-sector voting fraud may have cost the party two seats in April • Gantz: Israeli Prime minister’s move is “political spin” designed to “lower voter turnout.”
Predictions run 33 seats for the Likud and 31 for Blue and White, but show that a left-wing coalition that includes the Arab parties would win 62 seats, ensuring the right would be shut out.
In a pre-election interview with Israel National News, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu talks about annexation, Iran and the relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sits down with “Israel Hayom” for a pre-election interview that will run in full over the weekend.
Despite the fact that many Israelis view retaining the Jordan Valley as a consensus issue, the prime minister was criticized from the right and left over the timing of the move, right ahead of the Sept. 17 elections.
The Israeli prime minister also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin days ahead of the country’s April 9 election; it may be part of a strategy to woo voters in Israel who have Russian roots.
Kan poll shows Likud falling short of a right-wing majority, and is the second to put Blue and White ahead of Likud by a single seat.
Blue and White Party No. 2 Yair Lapid calls the event “a red flag for the citizens of Israel”; Yamina leader Naftali Bennett: “Hamas has stopped fearing Israel.”
The Trump administration said that it will continue to push ahead with releasing its long-awaited Mideast peace plan after the Israeli elections.
