Israeli Elections
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.
Speaking to schoolchildren in Elkana, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promises to “extend Jewish sovereignty to all the settlements, as part of the Land of Israel and as part of the State of Israel.”
“We have decided that we will not be releasing the peace vision (or parts of it) prior to the Israeli election,” tweeted U.S. Mideast special envoy Jason Greenblatt.
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 the Sept. 17 election looming, Likud is reportedly concerned about the potential loss of right-wing votes should the two smaller parties not pass the electoral threshold.
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.
Political parties alarmed by poll predicting low voter turnout on Sept. 17, outline various plans seeking to mobilizing supporters come election day.
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?
The court is also planning to consider whether or not to ban Otzma Yehudit candidates from running in the September election.
In a special interview, Labor Party leader Amir Peretz defends his decision to join forces with Gesher, criticizes the Blue and White Party, and appeals to frustrated Labor supporters to come back to their political home.
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz says Israeli deterrence has been “erased,” Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman says the prime minister “lacks leadership,” while former Education Minister Naftali Bennet says terror leaders “must start fearing for their lives.”
Ayman Odeh rejects an apology made by Ehud Barak for the events of October 2000, saying “we learned the hard way that there are more important things than the politics of ‘anyone but Bibi.’ ”
