So in 2009 the right bloc (Likud, Beiteinu, Shas, UTJ, Jewish Home, and and the National Union) had 65 seats.
In 2013 the same parties (albeit in a slightly different configuration)apparently have 64 seats and possibly more by the time all the votes are counted.
What a collapse by Netanyahu and the right.
And it’s not like this guy Lapid is some far-left dreamer. He does appear to less belicose on Iran, but vis-a-vis the Palestinians he’s pretty much well within the mainstream, if not a bit to the right. He wants to retain most settlements, keep Jerusalem undivided, and is against the right of return. That’s very similar to Netanyahu’s position, if not virtually identical. I don’t know enough about his domestic platform to really comment.
But you read some articles and pundits and you’d think Bibi and the right totally imploded and had Dems 2010-style drubbing.
At the end of the day, they’ll likely end up right where they started. Maybe disappointing that they didn’t increase their seats, but not some huge collapse or anything.
The exit polls apparently interviewed left-wing voters as they left the polls - which is confirmation bias.
About 57% of the vote is in as of 2:00 AM and its gonna be a long night.
Panic in the Likud was overwrought. The polls for the last two weeks were right on the mark that the Likud would stabilize around 34-35 seats.