Israel general discussion

[Famous Mortimer]

Can some Israeli poster can say more or less or maybe send me some links about which parties Israeli Christians (Arabs, not Arabs) usually vote on? They are small minority but maybe there are some data about them? I found information about such party https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_the_New_Testament but they don't seem to be popular. I will be very grateful for the help.

Mostly the secular Communist/socialist Hadash party. A few vote for the more Palestinian nationalist Balad party, whose founder is a Christian. A few more vote for Labor.

Mostly Hadash though. Now both Hadash and Balad are part of the Joint List. So most vote for the Joint List.

[Hnv1]

Can some Israeli poster can say more or less or maybe send me some links about which parties Israeli Christians (Arabs, not Arabs) usually vote on? They are small minority but maybe there are some data about them? I found information about such party https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sons_of_the_New_Testament but they don't seem to be popular. I will be very grateful for the help.

Most Hadash as it was the party of the Arab intelligentsia which was mostly Christian (best Arabic schools are private church schools) so they are pretty dominant across the Christian strongholds. Lots of the younger ones vote Balad though. Some vote Meretz (at least a popular pick in Haifa) and Labour. And there is a group of Maronites who vote Likud.
Their numbers are dwindling as it is with many immigrated along the years and the demographic balance changing to a large Muslim majority.

Non Arabic Christians living here who are also citizens (most are missionary and such) are scarce. Can't say there's enough of them to really talk about allegiance nor to talk of any group mentality. There's the Messianic Jews ("Jews who believe in Jesus") don't think they have a specific affiliation.  

You should note that most Arab Christians are far from devout and are mostly secular, they have very different denominations but I don't think any of those are "radical" (as 'Christian right') and of the Arabic society they are probably the most Liberal (surprisingly I'd rate the Druze last)

[Grand Wizard Lizard of the Klan]

Thank you both!

[danny]

I think most non Arab Christians are immigrants from the former USSR, and I imagine they vote similarly to Jewish immigrants, with Likud and Beitenu doing well.

[Famous Mortimer]

There are currently two members of the Christian community in the Knesset, both from the Joint List. One is Basel Ghattas from Balad, however is he a former member of Hadash. The other is Aida Touma-Suleiman from Hadash, however I do not know if she's in any way practicing, she's just from a Christian family, that's why I say "member of the Christian community".

[SATW]

Glad to see Amir Ohana get a chance to be in the Knesset. Likud continues to outclass the American Right with it's tolerance of LGBT.

Very depressed to see Shalom go. I hope he is innocent because of his long service in politics, but his wife interfering with an investigation is not a good sign.

[DavidB.]

Glad to see Amir Ohana get a chance to be in the Knesset. Likud continues to outclass the American Right with it's tolerance of LGBT.

Hear, hear. This is very good. Also very good that Yehuda Glick is next on the list to enter the Knesset as a Likud MP.


Ohana is the guy on the left. Picture on the airport with his partner and their children

[Hnv1]

Glad to see Amir Ohana get a chance to be in the Knesset. Likud continues to outclass the American Right with it's tolerance of LGBT.

Very depressed to see Shalom go. I hope he is innocent because of his long service in politics, but his wife interfering with an investigation is not a good sign.

Long service? He's seriously one of the dullest politicians we had, also one who always seemed firmly committed to advancing his reputation with no "agenda\ideology" to advance. I was trying to think of a single memorable decent thing he did and I cannot think of anything. Heck I couldn't even determine his stance on anything!

I'm happy he's gone, he was from the post Yom Kippor generation who brought us nothing but corruption and self preservation (Olmmert, Ramon, and others as well).

You must be logged in to read this quote.

A fringe charecter recently shot by a Palestinian for his third temple activities. would fit better in right of JH, can't see Bibi letting him (he's also a political ally of Feiglin)

[SATW]

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Jerusalem-mayor-Nir-Barkat-joins-the-Likud-calls-on-supporters-to-do-the-same-438030

Nir Barkat is officially a Likud member. Not a surprise to anyone, but great news nonetheless for people like me. Whenever the next election is, and if Bibi retires, I'll be starting a #DraftBarkat4PMMovement

[SATW]

Glad to see Amir Ohana get a chance to be in the Knesset. Likud continues to outclass the American Right with it's tolerance of LGBT.

Very depressed to see Shalom go. I hope he is innocent because of his long service in politics, but his wife interfering with an investigation is not a good sign.

Long service? He's seriously one of the dullest politicians we had, also one who always seemed firmly committed to advancing his reputation with no "agenda\ideology" to advance. I was trying to think of a single memorable decent thing he did and I cannot think of anything. Heck I couldn't even determine his stance on anything!

I'm happy he's gone, he was from the post Yom Kippor generation who brought us nothing but corruption and self preservation (Olmmert, Ramon, and others as well).

You must be logged in to read this quote.

A fringe charecter recently shot by a Palestinian for his third temple activities. would fit better in right of JH, can't see Bibi letting him (he's also a political ally of Feiglin)

Agreed. This is why I think Likud is hoping Oren Hazan isn't corrupt and that he will eventually be unsuspended. I personally have no issue w/ Glick and would like to see him in the Knesset, especially to rid Likud of Hazan.

[Hnv1]

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Jerusalem-mayor-Nir-Barkat-joins-the-Likud-calls-on-supporters-to-do-the-same-438030

Nir Barkat is officially a Likud member. Not a surprise to anyone, but great news nonetheless for people like me. Whenever the next election is, and if Bibi retires, I'll be starting a #DraftBarkat4PMMovement

Word is Likud primaries will be in 2 months so Barkat won't compete.
Hazan isn't going to resign unless he's really under criminal investigation...his parent have too much at stake to let their stock fall...

[SATW]

http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Jerusalem-mayor-Nir-Barkat-joins-the-Likud-calls-on-supporters-to-do-the-same-438030

Nir Barkat is officially a Likud member. Not a surprise to anyone, but great news nonetheless for people like me. Whenever the next election is, and if Bibi retires, I'll be starting a #DraftBarkat4PMMovement

Word is Likud primaries will be in 2 months so Barkat won't compete.
Hazan isn't going to resign unless he's really under criminal investigation...his parent have too much at stake to let their stock fall...

Very true. It's not surprising, but depressing nonetheless. Hopefully this controversy is either something real or nothing at all...anything to get Hazan's name out of the news for a few weeks.

[DavidB.]

A fringe charecter recently shot by a Palestinian for his third temple activities. would fit better in right of JH, can't see Bibi letting him (he's also a political ally of Feiglin)

I obviously know who Glick is. I wouldn't care about some average Likudnik becoming an MK, since I'm to their right (and given recent developments also to BY's right; would probably vote Zehut now). It would be interesting if Glick were to become the one who holds the balance of power for the coalition.

I'd like to see Barkat become PM in the future and I am very happy he became a member of Likud. At this point I've become tired of Netanyahu, who hurts the country and impedes progress on important issues. He's only there for himself.

[MalaspinaGold]

A fringe charecter recently shot by a Palestinian for his third temple activities. would fit better in right of JH, can't see Bibi letting him (he's also a political ally of Feiglin)

I obviously know who Glick is. I wouldn't care about some average Likudnik becoming an MK, since I'm to their right (and given recent developments also to BY's right; would probably vote Zehut now). It would be interesting if Glick were to become the one who holds the balance of power for the coalition.

I'd like to see Barkat become PM in the future and I am very happy he became a member of Likud. At this point I've become tired of Netanyahu, who hurts the country and impedes progress on important issues. He's only there for himself.

Stop.

[DavidB.]

Stop.

Not sure how you still manage to be surprised or disappointed when we disagree, when basically all our conversations are based on disagreement (and granted, some agreement)... I already told you I am a huge supporter of Feiglin.

[Famous Mortimer]

Didn't Barkat endorse Kadima in the past? I know this doesn't matter but it's interesting nonetheless.

[MalaspinaGold]

Stop.

Not sure how you still manage to be surprised or disappointed when we disagree, when basically all our conversations are based on disagreement (and granted, some agreement)... I already told you I am a huge supporter of Feiglin.

There's disagreement and there's endorsing Zalman Moshe Fegelein's latest cult front.
EDIT: Also, what are these "recent developments" or should I be afraid to ask?

[danny]

Stop.

Not sure how you still manage to be surprised or disappointed when we disagree, when basically all our conversations are based on disagreement (and granted, some agreement)... I already told you I am a huge supporter of Feiglin.

There's disagreement and there's endorsing Zalman Moshe Fegelein's latest cult front.
EDIT: Also, what are these "recent developments" or should I be afraid to ask?

What is so bad about Feiglin? I'm not planning on voting for him, but I can appreciate that he is an independent thinker and tries to have a consistent world view even when I don't agree with him, and isn't content to have the convenient opinions about everything other then security/settlements.

[MalaspinaGold]

Stop.

Not sure how you still manage to be surprised or disappointed when we disagree, when basically all our conversations are based on disagreement (and granted, some agreement)... I already told you I am a huge supporter of Feiglin.

There's disagreement and there's endorsing Zalman Moshe Fegelein's latest cult front.
EDIT: Also, what are these "recent developments" or should I be afraid to ask?

What is so bad about Feiglin? I'm not planning on voting for him, but I can appreciate that he is an independent thinker and tries to have a consistent world view even when I don't agree with him, and isn't content to have the convenient opinions about everything other then security/settlements.

They say the same thing about Zoabi.
Evaluating politicians in many ways resembles evaluating atlas posters: edgy =/= good.

[danny]

Stop.

Not sure how you still manage to be surprised or disappointed when we disagree, when basically all our conversations are based on disagreement (and granted, some agreement)... I already told you I am a huge supporter of Feiglin.

There's disagreement and there's endorsing Zalman Moshe Fegelein's latest cult front.
EDIT: Also, what are these "recent developments" or should I be afraid to ask?

What is so bad about Feiglin? I'm not planning on voting for him, but I can appreciate that he is an independent thinker and tries to have a consistent world view even when I don't agree with him, and isn't content to have the convenient opinions about everything other then security/settlements.

They say the same thing about Zoabi.

Ok, so what is your problem with Feiglin beyond your general problem with right wing Israelis?

[MalaspinaGold]

Stop.

Not sure how you still manage to be surprised or disappointed when we disagree, when basically all our conversations are based on disagreement (and granted, some agreement)... I already told you I am a huge supporter of Feiglin.

There's disagreement and there's endorsing Zalman Moshe Fegelein's latest cult front.
EDIT: Also, what are these "recent developments" or should I be afraid to ask?

What is so bad about Feiglin? I'm not planning on voting for him, but I can appreciate that he is an independent thinker and tries to have a consistent world view even when I don't agree with him, and isn't content to have the convenient opinions about everything other then security/settlements.

They say the same thing about Zoabi.

Ok, so what is your problem with Feiglin beyond your general problem with right wing Israelis?

Well, there's the fact that he manages to seamlessly bind theocratic principles with hyperliberarian economics, more so than literally any other figure in Israel that I can think of.
I also get a vibe of genuine nastiness from him (and no I don't get this feeling from all or even most Israeli right-wingers, even those from the more... theocratic end).
I'm also pretty sure he's a closet Kahanist (didn't he work with them back in the day?)

[Hnv1]

So Likud leadership elections will most likely be held in February and Gideon Saar a pretender to the crown announced he is not going to participate in Bibi's circus so to say. With him out I really don't see any strong challenger from inside.

[danny]

Ok, so what is your problem with Feiglin beyond your general problem with right wing Israelis?

Well, there's the fact that he manages to seamlessly bind theocratic principles with hyperliberarian economics, more so than literally any other figure in Israel that I can think of.
I also get a vibe of genuine nastiness from him (and no I don't get this feeling from all or even most Israeli right-wingers, even those from the more... theocratic end).
I'm also pretty sure he's a closet Kahanist (didn't he work with them back in the day?)

Feiglin is less theocratic than you would expect from a religious right winger, he opposes all kinds of religious laws that are supported even by Likud, much less BY.
Nastiness is very subjective so I can't really argue with that, but he seems like a genuinely nice guy to me.
Feiglin doesn't keep his opinions in the closet, and they don't really match Kahane's. Of course sometimes the opinions match and maybe there was some cooperation that I'm not aware of (this was before my time). But if this is your criteria to be against him, then you should be even more worried with BY, their number 2 sat in the same party with openly Kahannist Ben Ari pretty recently.

[Famous Mortimer]

Although Feiglin has taken this role of media boogeyman, his platform actually isn't that scary. It's more just ridiculous. He doesn't want to kill the Arabs, he just wants to pay them all to leave. Obviously that wouldn't work and it would never happen. It's so completely fantastical it's hardly worth getting upset over.

[MalaspinaGold]

Well, on this topic, some interesting things have been happening, specifically re: the aftermath of the Duma firebombing.

Essentially there have been reports that the Shin Bet has been using "enhanced interrogation" (aka torture) on some young (mostly teenage/early 20s) radical Jews, who were part of the group believed responsible for the firebombing, and still considered suspects. This has drawn condemnation from the usual suspects (e.g.  B'tselem) but also from some parts of the radical right (because "A Jew doesn't torture a Jew"). This has given Bennett a significant headache, because his party has the Justice Portfolio, and Justice Minister Shaked has been allowing the practice to continue, all the while the more radical Tekumah faction (Uri Ariel and Bezalel Smotrich) have been whinging. Bennett's definitively sided with Shaked though. I assume this is what's burst DavidB's bubble.

Then this happened.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/30-wedding-guests-to-be-questioned-over-clip-cheering-duma-murders/