Posted on 03/15/2015 10:11:06 AM PDT by Star Traveler
JERUSALEM (AP) — As Israelis prepare to vote in parliament elections on Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself at a fateful crossroads: Make history or become history.
If Netanyahu can lead his Likud Party to victory and secure a fourth term in office, he will move closer to overtaking the nation's iconic founding father, David Ben-Gurion, as the longest-ever serving premier — and cementing a status as the dominant Israeli politician of the past two decades.
But if Likud stumbles and finds itself in the opposition — a real possibility, according to recent polls — the Netanyahu era could end with a resounding thud, concluding a career that many would say brought few major accomplishments beyond longevity. Iran and the international community seem headed toward a nuclear deal that Netanyahu abhors, and a resolution to the Palestinian issue seems as distant as ever.
"If he leaves office, he won't leave any dramatic changes," said Yoaz Hendel, a former aide to Netanyahu. In a turbulent region, one could say "this is the best thing to do," Hendel said.
The Israeli campaign is widely seen as a choice between two world views: Netanyahu's focus on Israel's many security challenges — he has long been a voice calling for zero tolerance of terrorism — or his opponents' focus on Israel's social problems and high cost of living. It also touches on his support for Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, which the opposition and the outside world detest.
But on a basic level, the campaign is simply a referendum on Netanyahu, a polarizing character who is adored as "King Bibi" by his supporters and reviled by his detractors.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...
I suspect a Foggy Bottom troll.
If Netanyahu is the one selected to form a coalition, what do you think that coalition will look like? And would this be very upsetting to Israelis or would they just bear it for two years?
Thanks.
If coalition building falls to Netanyahu, I expect elections again in 18-24 months.
I don’t know where you get that idea. I’ve always been in support of ... and have also posted that I support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his policies 100%. Even while I was supporting him 100% in what he was doing with Hamas when he was fighting them the last time around ... there were FReepers cricizing me for backing him and his policies and what he was doing with Hamas.
SO ... it would seem to be (from what I’ve seen in supporting Netanyahu 100%) ... that it doesn’t matter to others, and other Freeper posters, because they really don’t support Netanyahu 100% ... :-) ...
I’ll stick with my support of Netanyahu despite the other Freeper’s criticism of doing so.
It would be a problematic coalition, on the verge of exploding at any moment.
I tend to agree.
Can you help me understand why Netanyahu chose to put himself in this position?
Bibi can thank Obama if he’s defeated. Obama sent over his guys to poison Bib’s image and promise Israeli’s free iPhones if they vote for the opposition.
Also, gave groups cash, our tax dollars, to campaign against Bibi. Guess Netanyahu didn’t know the long arm of Chicago politics could reach Israel.
That's about as long as the current government has lasted, isn't it?
I don’t have an issue with Netanyahu ... as I’ve said consistently here on Free Republic ... I support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 100% in his actions and policies. I’ve also said several times that he is what Israel needs, despite those on his “right” and on his “left” wanting to dump him.
Yes.
The opposition was already there and complaining a long time before even Obama was around. That’s just the Israelis for you ... :-) ..
I would say Bibi’s legacy is already written
He will rank right up there with Chirchill,
while Obama will be our Chamberlain, if not
our Quisling.
That’s true ... the voting electorate is “always in for a change” it seems ...
But Obama's interference sure the hell didn't help Netanyahu.
Except Churchill was a master at building coalitions against the enemy. I wonder if Netanyahu skipped this chapter when studying history.
As for Obama's legacy--well, words truly fail me. :-(
Then why are you starting multiple threads as a prophet of doom predicting that Netanyahu will lose in Tuesday's election? I you had predicted an Obama victory over Romney a week before the 2012 elections, then you would have rightly been accused of attempting to suppress the Republican vote. In this instance you are not even correct, since Bibi will form the next coalition government, whatever Likud's performance is. So, you are spinning; but for what or whom? Please enlighten us.
It’s ENTIRELY his plan for dealing with the evil in the world and with Satan. God lets evil come to its fullest, so that he can judge it. In fact God even REMOVES CHRISTIANS from the world so that they don’t interfere with the Antichrist coming to power FULLY. It’s definitely God’s plan so that he will be able to “deal with it”!
it has to be difficult in a democratic election, but
Bibi should really have tried to find a way to bar... or kick out... the foreign ‘community organizers’ and ‘election experts’ and the rest of the Obama/Soros/IslamoNazi meddlers and $$$$$$$$$$$$ working for the opposition to undermine the government in Jerusalem
money is hard to keep out anywhere, of course
but it could at least be legally banned and watched for....
and
maybe at least the foreign/enemy ‘campaign workers’ and ‘community organizers’ and ‘election volunteers’ could be banned
it was obvious from the beginning that right now (with Obama still in our WHouse) is a terribly risky time for Bibi to have called elections. Obama’s having already overthrown or having tried to overthrow a half-dozen governments...to install the worst IslamoNazi/Muslim Brotherhood type terrorist murderering thugs into power. The whole world could see Obama was trying to undermine Jersualem, too..
If he had any way to hang on for another 22 months, it would be so much less dangerous for Israel
Sure. I’ve been watching your drivel and protestations since the Gaza war. You disappear only to show up and post stuff that causes doubt for Likud.
Israel needs to have a weak leader who will sign a 7 year peace treaty. Netenyahu is not that leader.
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