Israeli Elections
A new Israel Hayom poll conducted this week shows the Likud and Blue and White almost neck and neck, with 31 and 30 seats, respectively.
Amir Peretz, who led Labor from 2005-06 and served as defense minister under Ehud Olmert, will now begin preparing the once-powerful party for Israel’s September election.
In the April 9 general elections, Labor won just six Knesset seats, the worst electoral showing in the party’s history.
Barak, the most decorated soldier in Israel Defense Forces history, served as IDF chief of staff from 1991 to 1995, and then as prime minister from 1999 to 2001, defeating a young Netanyahu after his first term as prime minister.
Likud Knesset member Miki Zohar said Barak’s return to politics was “good for the right, but very bad for the left, and has disastrous potential for the State of Israel.”
“These are dark days the likes of which we have never known,” he said at a press conference announcing his decision.
If the parties fail to form meaningful partnerships that combine forces to pass the electoral threshold, the right is at risk of seeing seven or more mandates go to waste, thereby preventing Netanyahu from being able to form a right-wing, nationalist government.
“The public does not want to go to elections, and the Knesset’s job is to represent the public,” said Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein.
In letter to Jewish Home Party leader Rafi Peretz, Otzma Yehudit, officials say they feel like they were “used and thrown out” after the April 9 elections.
All eyes are on former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak and Tiberias Mayor Ron Kobi, though many developments will likely pop up between now and the Aug 2. deadline to submit party lists for the Sept. 17 elections.
Jewish Home leader Rafi Peretz agreed prior to the April elections to resign if appointed as a minister. Now that he’s education minister, not only is he not doing so, they say he’s not even answering the phone.
Amir Ohana and Bezalel Smotrich are making headlines with their staunch views, although some say it’s more about politicking than policy.
