Netanyahu set to win Israel election but rightists gain: polls

[oberliner]

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party is set to win a parliamentary election on January 22 although the popularity of a far-right party opposed to Palestinian statehood is growing, polls showed on Friday.

Two out of three surveys showed the right-wing Likud losing voters to political newcomer Naftali Bennett's religious party Bayit Yehudi (Jewish Home)and to a fractured center-left bloc.

All still predicted a strong right-wing coalition emerging in the 120-seat parliament, which would assure Netanyahu another term.

The daily Yedioth Ahronoth published a poll with Likud winning 33 seats, four less than a month ago. A poll in the Jerusalem Post showed Likud fell to 34, down from 39 just two weeks ago. A survey by Maariv said Likud held ground at 37.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/12/28/us-israel-election-polls-idUSBRE8BR06Y20121228

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Sad that Netanyahu isn't considered a "rightist" in this article.

[Scootaloo]

1. Agreed;

Sad that Netanyahu isn't considered a "rightist" in this article.

because in Israeli party politics... he's more to the center-like. Hell, even compared to some in his own party (Moshe Feiglan, what a charming example of humanity he is).

[Harry_Scrote]

2. I read lots of posts here on DU

saying Bibi's not that popular, or that DU'ers don't like him anyway. But then I read about Israel as a whole, that Bibi's set to win elections, or that he's already won. I don't get it.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Me too, unless

our definitions of right, left, and center are divergent from how Israeli voters define those terms. It's all relative I suppose where Bibi is center by contrast to the "extremists" who are far to the right of him.

What I don't understand is I've read articles where there was a bigger voting representation of liberal secularists/non-religious fundamentalists in Israel. Is their count accurate or are they not voting or both?

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

6. To give some perspective on where Netanyahu stands politically.

He supported Romney.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/11/israels-netanyahu-takes-heat-after-obama-victory/

Bibi claims he killed the Oslo accord.
http://electronicintifada.net/content/video-netanyahu-brags-he-deceived-us-destroy-oslo-accords/8934

Former President Clinton admits this
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2011/09/22/bill_clinton_netanyahu_killed_the_peace_process


Netanyahu may be center right in Israel, but that would be considered hard right in America.

The farther right one goes there will be an even farther right trying to outdo you.

[geek tragedy]

5. Cognitive dissonance--people who view themselves as liberal but also believe

that supporting Israel is a moral obligation for the US government.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

7. America has always been steeped in hypocrisy when it comes to other countries.

The USA supported:

Dictatorships in Latin America

Dictatorships in South America

Dictatorships in Southeast Asia

Dictatorships in the Middle East

Dictatorships in Africa

This support has happened in both Democratic and Republican administrations.


If Israel was a island in the Southeast Pacific, without any strategic importance, America would think twice about it.
It is only because of where Israel it is that gives it such importance and the mostly blind eye of American administrations.

[geek tragedy]

8. Sure, and it was rightwingers who advocated that support. Israel is different, in that

it enjoys broad support (especially in Congress and the media) amongst people who self-identify as liberal/progressive--Nancy Pelosi, for example, shamelessly panders to AIPAC.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

9. Not true unfortunately.

FDR had Batista in Cuba and the Somozas in Nicaragua.
and http://wais.stanford.edu/USA/us_supportforladictators8303.html


But on Congress. Do you actually believe that congress would be so supportive of Israel if it was an island in the South Pacific? The only reason that Israel get such broad support from our law makers is its location as a toe hold for the west in the Mid East.

And speaking on Pelosi. Wasn't she just quoted as saying that a chained CPI isn't a cut to Social Security? Not all our leaders act in the best interests of the USA. Sometimes the are very callous in their view of Democracy and what they allow other Democracies do: while giving them our tax dollars to do it with.

So Israel creeps toward the right little by little while enjoying a lift from the US taxpayer. All the while the Palestinians suffer regardless of who represents them.

[geek tragedy]

10. There are strategic elements and domestic political components to the support.

Somoza and Batista certainly didn't have strong political constituencies here.

Israel at one time had significant strategic value, but it has become an albatross around our necks. Now it gets by on the strength of its domestic political lobby.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

13. I agree on all points. Politicians, besides being greedy IMHJO,

are also terrified of political treats and the loss of $$. I believe that most US politicians accept AIPAC donations, and that is a problem.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Israel_Public_Affairs_Committee

[Report1212]

12. Israel is a very right wing country at this point

At some points in the 1990's the center had more power, not anymore

[geek tragedy]

4. This is not the Israel of Ben Gurion and Golda Meir.

It's the Israel of Avigdor Lieberman, Bibi Netanyahu, and Naftali Bennett.

Ariel Sharon would be considered a left-center figure in today's Israel.

Which is why the strongest support for that state in the US is found on the far right, and why it is lessening amongst liberals and progressives and moderates.

[Aristus]

11. IIRC, Moshe Dayan was fairly liberal too, right?

n/t

[oberliner]

14. Your last sentence is not true

The far right hates Israel. Listen to Pat Buchanan sometime.

Moderate Democrats in Congress are some of Israel's staunchest supporters.

[geek tragedy]

16. There is no Buchanan wing of the conservative movement anymore.

It's been replaced by the Tea Party crowd which, Rand Paul aside, loves Israel hard.

[R. Daneel Olivaw]

18. Those guys are end timers.

Be careful of who wants to be your friend and why.

[malz]

15. What Happened to Israel???

My one and only trip there was 19 years ago, but everyone I spoke with wanted peace, and most wanted a Palestinian state.

[leftlibdem420]

17. Neo-Zionists ruined the fucking place...

The original Zionists were secular Jews who wanted to build a secular, socialist, multiracial utopia on the land of the Ancient Israelites. That ended the day they decided to become a pawn in Cold War politics. The Right of Return law led to the emergence of a strong religious right as well as to the rise of a secular and nationalist neo-zionist right.

[stevenleser]

19. Current head of Labor is trying to restore a commitment to Social Justice in Israel

She gives example in this video of how everything starts there and how there is confusion among the Israeli electorate about left and right.