Israel General Election Thread: March 17 2015

[danny]

If you are wondering about the date for the primaries:

Likud: 31/12
Labour:13/1
Jewish Home: 14/1
Meretz: 19/1

[MalaspinaGold]

In a surprise move, MK Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz) announces he's retiring.

[Hnv1]

The Shas inner fighting is currently the best show in town. I fear that JH wil benefit the most out of it.

Corruption investigation is going forward with the governmental "settlement division" being raided by police

MK Adi Kol (Yesh Attid) announces she will not be seeking reelection
And suprisingly also MK Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz)

[MalaspinaGold]

Is there any reason why? "Wanting to go in a new direction doesn't seem convincing...

Also, when can we expect results from the Likud primary?

EDIT: It seems that the Committee elections a few days ago didn't go well for him. Still I can't imagine he was in any real danger, given his prominence and popularity.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Meretz-MK-Nitzan-Horowitz-leaves-politics-after-six-years-386280

[Famous Mortimer]

Polls closed an hour ago. We should be getting results very very soon.

[Famous Mortimer]

Danon has conceded to Netanyahu (no big surprise)

Results for the list may not come out until Friday. Why so long though? New Years?

[danny]

Netanyahu is winning 85-15 from the first results of about 3000 votes, nothing to see here.

[danny]

Danon has conceded to Netanyahu (no big surprise)

Results for the list may not come out until Friday. Why so long though? New Years?

The results should be out in a few hours, although it might take longer until they are official.

[Famous Mortimer]

Also, just for the sake of trivia, do people celebrate New Years in Israel?

[danny]

Also, just for the sake of trivia, do people celebrate New Years in Israel?

Privately yes, but there isn't a national holiday.

[Vosem]

Also, just for the sake of trivia, do people celebrate New Years in Israel?

Russians in Israel most certainly do; it was one of the most important holidays of the year in the Soviet Union.

[danny]

Bibi's margin has gone down a bit, he's at 75-80%.

[danny]

After 12% of the vote counted:
1) Ardan
2) Edelstein
3) Yisrael Katz
4) Elkin
5) Levin
6) Shalom
7) Ye'elon
8 ) Akunis
9) Gamliel
10) Regev

[danny]

Regev jumped to 4th.

[Famous Mortimer]

Gross. Regev is the one who called African migrants cancer and then when she was confronted about it, apologized to cancer patients but not Africans. And also brought up the Holocaust for no reason.

[Famous Mortimer]

Danon's not even in the top 10 at this point? Did his leadership run actually damage him?

[danny]

Danon's not even in the top 10 at this point? Did his leadership run actually damage him?

He's now up to 10th with 20% counted. Keep in mind that Jerusalem and the settlements aren't in yet, which means that Feiglin is currently out.

[danny]

Gross. Regev is the one who called African migrants cancer and then when she was confronted about it, apologized to cancer patients but not Africans. And also brought up the Holocaust for no reason.

She was put in the "recommended" list of the big Likud unions this time and was expected to be higher up this time.

[Famous Mortimer]

Which unions are those? Is the one Haim Katz is the leader of one of them?

[danny]

David Levi's son won his district race and will be in the 18th spot.

[danny]

Which unions are those? Is the one Haim Katz is the leader of one of them?

Yes, The big one the Aeronautics workers union, which is headed by Haim Katz.

[Famous Mortimer]

I haven't previous heard about Levy's son. Is he fairly moderate? That must be good news for Netanyahu.

[danny]

I haven't previous heard about Levy's son. Is he fairly moderate? That must be good news for Netanyahu.

Can't find anything about his opinions, just that he used to be mayor of Bet Shean.

[danny]

Edelstein moved ahead of Ardan into first.

[Famous Mortimer]

Lots of sites reporting that Moshe Feiglin will not be in a realistic spot.

Also, right before the primary, Miri Regev had said that if Netanyahu didn't appoint her as a minister, she would "make a coup." This might have contributed to her becoming the most popular woman in Likud, although the results overall don't seem especially anti-Bibi.