Posted on 08/14/2007 8:13:41 AM PDT by RDTF
Former premier Benjamin Netanyahu, who is set to be re-elected as head of Israel's right-wing Likud party on Tuesday, is a media-savvy arch-hawk determined to move back to the political centre stage.
Netanyahu was expected to sweep to victory during a Likud primary with at least 70 percent of the vote, according to internal opinion polls, in a contest against two other candidates.
-snip-
Bibi, as Netanyahu is widely known in Israel, is hoping to ride a wave of dissapointment with the ruling Kadima party over scandals and last year's Lebanon war back to the top of the Israeli political spectrum.
The right-wing party had the wind knocked out of it after former prime minister Ariel Sharon decided in November 2005 to quit and form the centrist Kadima, today headed by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
With Netanyahu at the helm, Likud that had dominated Israeli politics since its first election victory in 1977 managed to scrape together only 12 seats in the 120-member parliament.
The defeat marked a devastating turn of fortunes for the politician who 11 years before became Israel's youngest prime minister.
Over the past year, however, Netanyahu's luck has changed -- opinion ratings of him and his party have risen as those of Kadima and Olmert have slid in the wake of the inconclusive Lebanon war and a string of scandals involving senior government figures.
Today Netanyahu is the public's first choice to be Israel's next prime minister -- 36 percent favoured him in a recent opinion poll, compared with eight percent for Olmert and 22 percent for former premier Ehud Barak.
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
That would be most welcome news. Though I prefered Sharon.
Go Bibi!!
Exactly. Arch hawk? Compared to Olmert, perhaps. Look at those goofballs in the background of that photo.
That’s the Bibi who surrendered Hebron without a fight and transformed Hamas from a dying fringe group into a powerhouse when he released terrorist Sheik Yassin.
I fear that Netanyahu, for all his good beliefs, just doesn’t have it as far as either political acumen, tactical or strategic thinking. Sharon just ran circles around him, inflicting hard punches without Netanyahu able to lay a glove on him.
He would have been a good supporter, had his inclinations run in that direction, but he has ambition to be in charge, and he just doesn’t have it.
That being said, Israel needs someone who is pretty ruthless, uncompromising, and efficient to get their house in order, and in a hurry. Most likely a military man, because few civilians have what it takes.
Bibi is just a bright guy who hopes to preserve a homeland for his people. The media has demonized him and any Israeli who will not give real land for promises of peace (which are always broken). There is no land to give. Israel is probably 60 miles wide with enemies all around, and open threats to wipe them out. We need Bibi back in power.
agreed!
Actually, at its narrowest point, Israel is 20 miles wide.
Olmert is a disaster. Netanyahu is flawed, but he is a giant next to a weak fool like Olmert.
agreed!”
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Ditto agreed!
Arch-hawk? Whoo boy. The left must be running low on extremist terminology these days.
Hey, I like the guy. Is he the best Israel has right now w/r to preserving the homeland?
Hey, I like the guy. Is he the best Israel has right now w/r to preserving the homeland?
Better Bibi than Olmerde ping!
With Netanyahu at the helm, Likud that had dominated Israeli politics since its first election victory in 1977 managed to scrape together only 12 seats in the 120-member parliament... Today Netanyahu is the public's first choice to be Israel's next prime minister -- 36 percent favoured him in a recent opinion poll, compared with eight percent for Olmert and 22 percent for former premier Ehud Barak.Careful what you wish for.
We can only hope.
i like netanyahu.
certainly the outcome of the last israeli foray into
lebanon would have had different results.
Netanyahu talks a good game, but was a great disappointment the last time. Better than Olmert, probably- but that’s not saying much.
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