Israel General Elections || 23.03.2021

[CumbrianLefty]

Its going to be a(nother) right wing win tho, innit?

[CumbrianLefty]

This is becoming hilarious

We asked?

Who is we? Are you Israeli? I thought you were Canadian.

And yeah four elections in two years is pretty hilarious. Just more proof that Israel is a dysfunctional, failed democracy.

The big question is, I suppose, how much of that is down to the malign influence of one man.

Some, but I suspect far from all.

[CumbrianLefty]

Bennett has certainly presented themselves as to the right of Bibi until recently.

[CumbrianLefty]

Labour to hold primaries but currently, no one bar Michaeli announced their running. not even for the list. another dead man walking party.

Isn't the thing about Labour that they have almost no voters left (even most of *their own members* support other parties now) but still significant assets?

I think the SDP of Japan is in a not totally dissimilar position.

[CumbrianLefty]

Labor - 1.1%

Its all just a bit sad now.

[CumbrianLefty]

Without too going off topic, there was a classic example of this here at the weekend - with the Tories saying that they will "defend" historic statues against <sic> "crazed mobs".

Its not as if they have nothing else to occupy their time right now, after all......

[CumbrianLefty]

Gotta respect Michaeli. This woman clawed her way through a ton of resistance. She's likely to be the last Labour leader, though

Surely her main priority should be to formally wind the party up as a separate concern.

[CumbrianLefty]

What do this people want, to get 1% in the polls like Peretz? Well, the answer is yes, as long as they get to control the party.

I genuinely don't get this determination to "control" a smoking ruin at almost any cost.

(and yes, recent parallels with certain other social democratic parties are certainly available)

[CumbrianLefty]

Yes, but Israel Labour is having a mini-revival under its new leader. Which makes this all the sillier.

[CumbrianLefty]

So things could end up with Meretz merging into Labour?

(rather than, as seemed much likelier pretty recently, the other way around)

[CumbrianLefty]

So things could end up with Meretz merging into Labour?

(rather than, as seemed much likelier pretty recently, the other way around)

The deadline for mergers has already passed.

Yeah, was referring to things in a (slightly) longer term sense.

[CumbrianLefty]

Is the results page up yet?

23.03...

Ohh f**k me lmao

Most of us have been there

[CumbrianLefty]

I mean, what if Bibi's bloc *does* fall just short of the magic 60 again?

How many times will people be asked to vote before they get the "right" (and indeed, right) answer??

[CumbrianLefty]

Welcome back, Walmart_shopper!

Former PM Olmert endorses...Labour

I'm sure they're just soo thrilled to have the endorsement of an ex-PM who went to prison for corruption.

Thanks. I wish I was as optimistic about our political future as I once was, bur man it is grim these days. Feels like the exact inverse of America right now.

Feels a bit like that in the UK right now. Of course, one reason for a touch of optimism is that what happens in the US might have an effect on others over time. As has certainly happened before.

(and will either Bibi or BoJo be happy, deep down, at losing their buddy Trump?)

[CumbrianLefty]

How many seats away from a majority is Netanyahu right now? It's good that he hasn't won, but five elections would be even more ridiculous than four. What flaw in the political system is producing this gridlock, is it just sectarian and polarised politics or something to do with the electoral system too?

He has no majority. Smotrich has ruled out sitting with the Arabs. Either the center left pulls a nimble move and forms a government or we are indeed headed for a late summer election. As Hnv said the presidential election could get pretty wild, especially if some people try to propise offering the position to Bibi (he would get immunity, Israel would be free of his regime). Doubt that will happen but you never know.

I've seen it speculated that this is what he actually wants if he again can't get a majority?

[CumbrianLefty]

If I was an Israeli, I would be fed up with all these elections

I think quite a few outside Israel are getting a bit fed up with them now

[CumbrianLefty]

Rarely has "not this s*** again!" been meant more genuinely.

[CumbrianLefty]

Bibi completed a royal cave-in, after realizing the SC will admonish him on live television and say the rotation agreement is in full force, Bibi backs down and agrees to the appointment of Gantz as Minister of Justice.

His days are numbered

We have heard *that* before, tbf.

[CumbrianLefty]

Still maybe not too late for him to start another war......

[CumbrianLefty]

IT'S HAPPENING?

Possibly, very possibly.

But don't actually believe it until Bibi is six feet under (metaphorically if not actually literally)

[CumbrianLefty]

https://twitter.com/NeriZilber/status/1401119645747318785

Ah, another January 6 moment possibly?

If so, it will hopefully finally discredit Bibi rather as it did Trump.

[CumbrianLefty]

Ah, another January 6 moment possibly?

No, they want another May 10.

Also, the worry is about another November 4.

Ah, thanks for reminding me of that one.