Electoral Politics in Israel; We're Back Once More To Where We Were Before

American Thinker ^ | 03/06/2020 | Michael Curtis

[SeekAndFind]

The State of Israel on March 2, 2020 had its third parliamentary election for the Knesset in under a year. Like the two previous occasions, it failed to end with a party or party group gaining an overall majority and thus able to form a government, either on its own or in a coalition.

The existing prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at first claimed victory, but his coalition won only a plurality, 58 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, four short of an overall majority. Consultations have now begun to determine how a new government can be formed and who is to lead it as prime minister.

Though Netanyahu did not fully succeed, he must be seen as a remarkable politician, one who failed to win three elections in outright fashion in a single year, who has been indicted on three counts — fraud, breach of trust, and bribery — and is facing trial on March 17, 2020, but who has survived. Indeed, he has denied any criminal activity and has responded with talk of a "witch hunt" by police and the media against him.

Though Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, appointed by Netanyahu, recommended in February 2019 that Netanyahu be indicted, it did not seem to change minds of voters, since he led in public opinion polls after that. The filing of allegations of corruption apparently did not change views of citizens, clearly not sufficiently to make people vote for parties other than the coalition led by Netanyahu. This is all the more significant since the election campaign was focused not so much on ideological differences between the main parties, since the main opposition accepted many similar views, but on the personality and alleged misdeeds of Netanyahu.

[SeekAndFind]

The results are as follows:

Likud: 36 seats, 29.26% of the vote, led by 70-year-old Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu;

Blue and White: 33 seats, 26.38%, led by 60-year-old Benny Gantz, former Israel Army chief;

The Joint List (Arab): 15 seats, 13.04%, led by Ayman Odeh;

Shas: 9 seats, 7.75%, led by Arye Deri;

Ultra-Orthodox UJT (United Torah Judaism): 7 seats, 6.15%, led by Moshe Gafni;

Yisrael Beyenu: 7 seats, 5.89%, led by secular nationalist Avigdor Lieberman;

Labor-Gesher-Meretz: 7 seats, 5.73%, led by Amir Peretz; and

far right Yamina, led by Naftali Bennett: 6 seats and 5.02%.

[Old Retired Army Guy]

Is there any chance that 4 of the Opposition can join Likud to for a Government?

[faithhopecharity]

The Jewish people include leading scientists artisans musicians doctors technologists - just about everything except governance — where in Jerusalem they’re committing suicide with politicians fighting over how fast to give the rest of their little country away to their sworn enemies instead of removing or eliminating them like every other nation on earth does. It’s sad

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Is there any chance that 4 of the Opposition can join Likud to for a Government?

I think Netanyahu’s best chance is with the Ultra-Orthodox party.

[DoodleDawg]

So which parties align with Likud and which align with Blue & White?

[Ezekiel]

Netanyahu... facing trial on March 17, 2020

Looks like he could use a little Likud of the Irish.

[BohDaThone]

he already has shas and UTJ in his 58.

It is 55 for the arabs + center-left

and 7 for Lieberman. So he is still the kingmaker but nobody seems to want him to be king, and he won't make anyone!

[Phinneous]

Adar...great month to be victorious in judgement.

[jjotto]

UTJ is already counted in the Right Bloc.

This will drag out at least 6 and likely 12 weeks.

I believe there is zero chance of a Netanyahu majority.

Likely a Gantz led minority government, or some else besides Netanyahu might peel off some opposition votes for a majority.

[BillyBoy]

>> far right Yamina, led by Naftali Bennett: 6 seats and 5.02%. <<

Thanks to Fieldmarshaldj's handy translation guide for Mainstream Media terminology, we know that the politicians they label as "far right extremists" are actually the only decent mainstream conservatives on the ballot. The so called "conservatives" in Likud think taxpayer funded abortion on demand and the gaystapo agenda is just peachy.

Also the "hardliner conservative" Ben Netanyahu and "moderate" Ben Gantz probably agree on 95% of the issues. The only clear difference is Gantz is willing to allow Arab Party members in his government.

[Ezekiel]

Haman had no idea that he was no good inside, so he had no clue that he would end up as the very basis for the game of HANGMAN.

NG - initialism for "no good".

HANGMAN

Right there in the name of the game it says the obvious, that HAMAN was no good inside.

:)

[Wuli]

Israel could become like Italy - many different administrations in as many years.

Like Italy, splintered parties come from purist political attitudes that refuse to join a party consisting of a coalition of those they are closest too on enough major items, without demanding 100% agreement on everything. Such coalitions (like the Dims and the GOP) are able to devise broader agreements on legislation or policy that satisfy most of their members even if a few purists sit it out. Broader coalitions get things done. Splintered parties spend more time disagreeing than getting anything done.

ON THE OTHER HAND, as government should not be considered the solution for everything, a government, or a party in power, stymied by no majority on major items is not always a bad thing.

[BTerclinger]

What do you say to a Jewish leprechaun?

Chag Purim Sameach!

[Ezekiel]

What do you say to a Jewish leprechaun?

Chag Purim Sameach!

;) There go the "grog"gers, slosh slosh slosh.

Okay though... just how non-sensical is the saying about getting drunk until one does not know the difference between 'cursed be Haman' and 'blessed be Mordecai'?

A bad day for Haman *is* a good day for Mordecai, so what is the difference, just as the gematria is the same, 502. No need to be under the influence at all.

Reminds me that St. Patriarchs' er St. Patrick's Day and Purim line up on the "Grog"orian calendar in 2022.

One would definitely need a "high proof" though, to see no difference in Jacob saying to Esau, "I love you!"and Esau saying to Jacob, "I love you!", even though it's the same three words, and also that they add up to 502 (ani ohev otcha, אני אוהב אותך), which is Esau spelled out in full (ayin 130 + sinn 360 + vav 12). Probably some Gaelic pun in there that comes around full circle.

The SPD parades in the colonies started in Boston (=133) in 1737, aka New Jerusalem, "Je-bus"ton as it were. The Hebrew root "bus" means to tread down, and Patria -- Patrick is the patron saint of travelers. Go figure.

Psalm 133

A Song of Maalot of David

1. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity:
2. It is like the good oil upon the head, that runs down upon the beard, Aaron's beard, that runs down to the hem of his garments:
3. Like the dew of Hermon descending upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life for evermore:

"Hug" Purim Sameach! :)

Gen 18.14-15

Is any thing too hard for the Lord? At the time appointed I will return to you, at this season [the time of her living], and Sarah shall have a son: Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid; And he said, No; you did laugh..

I don't think most are truly prepared for the high quality of pun and entertainment that God has stashed up His sleeve.

I mean come on, Guin-ness [גינס]? It's not only a miracle, a nes, it's a beer - a bira, a "capital city"! James, Seamus (shame-us), Diago... the Jacob name puns are off the charts over there.

The "pur" [פור] is in the proof [פרוף], "80" proof. It's yet another pei (mouth) code involving the Redemption. And it would explain why on earth America celebrates this seemingly random holiday.

The "bos" of Boston is:

from“bote” (advantage, benefit, profit, relief, salvation, remedy, atonement, amends, expiation)

Which has carried down in words like better, best, and even "to boot", same thing Rachel said when she named Joseph -- God will give me another son to boot..

Gotta laugh, it really *is* all good.

Happy Purim! Drink!

How to Stay Cool and Beat Amalek

Amalekites are the quintessential killjoys -- a dime a dozen, so nothing special, *not* a holy people, yet they succeed in beating everyone else down. They are the types to think that all of these highly integrated details are just "meh", random.

עם לא קדוש

Is nothing sacred? Uh oh, drink! :)

The Revolution Happens Here, at "The Pub" er hub. More beer on tap:

The basement tavern was used by several secret groups and became known by historians as the "Headquarters of the Revolution". The Sons of Liberty led by Samuel Adams, Boston Committee of Correspondence and the Boston Caucus each met there. The Boston Tea Party was planned there and Paul Revere (a Mason) was sent from there to Lexington on his famous ride.

>>>

The current Green Dragon Tavern is located on 11 Marshall Street in Boston's North End. It publicity states that it is the "headquarters of the revolution", though its relationship to the demolished original pub is not immediately apparent.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Dragon_Tavern

not immediately apparent

Heh, well they could start with the zip code, which is the same as the year the twins were born. Or with the competition right across the alley, at address 147 which is "The Point", the years of the lives of the twins, because you know there's that story about Esav's head rolling into the cave... like the matching stones that were installed as the head of the corner right there in the same location. The round "head" wasn't located until the old establishment was torn down and a new one rebuilt in its place.

The round stone was located in the cave -- the basement -- and the two were reunited and rejoined in 1836, when America was 60 years old. "USA" [ארה"ב] = 208 = Isaac, who was 60 when the twins arrived.

Hmmm, thinking..

If the Bible teaches anything, it's that God has an eye for detail. He's got that little twinkle thing going on in there.

This stuff is way more literal than it may appear.