Countdown to the Israeli Elections: 8 days to Go

For the next week and beyond, I will post updates on the Israeli elections, which will be held on March 28th.

Poll favorites Kadima have told supporters that they want more than half the Knesset’s 120 seats. The most favorable polls show they are likely to get around 42.

Kadima are reaching out to Anglos by devoting 10 minutes of a 90 minute speech in English.

Showing that he is following in the footsteps of his mentor, Ariel Sharon, acting Prime Minister Olmert is under investigation for shady political appointments.

Labor Party Chairman Amir Peretz has vowed to do everything he can to help “settlers” evacuated from the Gaza Strip if he is elected. Needless to say, the evacuees are not jumping up and down with optimistic joy.

Expecting to be defeated in the elections, Labor are reportedly focusing on what portfolios it should demand in coalition negotiations with Kadima, the likely victors.

Peretz has made it clear that he refuses to join a government with either Likud chairman Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu or Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beitenu, although a “Bibi-less” Likud would be fine. In the meantime, Labor has denied meeting with Likud, while simultaneously saying that even if such meetings had taken place, “they were about issues unrelated to the coalition or a preventive bloc.”

Likud Chairman Bibi Netanyahu has claimed that the media is out to get him, and is engaging in character assassination against him. He then proceeded to list his achievements while the cameras were still rolling, effectively rectifying the situation.

Ninja politics: Likud supporters have reportedly attacked Labor campaigners with knives and batons.

In perhaps the best example of subtle election campaigning, Shas say vote for us, or go to hell. They have also bombarded people with phone calls promising a place in heaven to those who vote for them. I say show me the way to the reaper.

Some people are still living in la-la land.

Fellow Anglo-Israeli bloggers Lisa Goldman and Shai Tsur are blogging the elections at The Guardian.

About the author

David Lange

A law school graduate, David Lange transitioned from work in the oil and hi-tech industries into fulltime Israel advocacy. He is a respected commentator and Middle East analyst who has often been cited by the mainstream media

Countdown to the Israeli Elections: 8 days to Go

About the author

David Lange

David Lange

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