The Street vs Democracy-- FOLLOW THE MONEY

 

screenshot from Channel 14 News
Last night's antigovernment demonstration

It seems like the whole world has heard that the legally, democratically elected Israeli Government has passed a very necessary law to reform the judiciary, which has set itself up as the alternative government vetoing laws. The judiciary is very political. One law for the Left and another for the Right.

To be perfectly honest and accurate the demonstrations predate the present government's bill for judicial reform. 

For those trying to understand the basic issue here in Israel. Very simple. Judges have put themselves above the parliament and rule according to their opinions and ideologies, rather than laws. They have declared themselves above the law with rights to veto according to their personal feelings aka reasonableness. They can perpetuate their politics by choosing their successors. Basically this has disenfranchised the voters and made a farce out of elections. Yes, the judges and their supporters are the antidemocracy group.

Israel is a parliamentary democracy. We vote for political parties. After most elections, the leader of the party that has received the most votes manages to negotiate a coalition with other parties which has more than half of the 120 Members of Knesset. The Likud has gotten the most votes/seats in most recent elections including the November, 2022 elections, in which he and a few other political parties campaigned as a block promising to form a stable coalition. That's what happened, so therefore according to Israeli law and democracy Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu is the legal Prime Minister of the State of Israel. 

For the past few years, definitely predating those recent elections, there has been a well-funded movement to push Bibi out of his number one position in Likud and out the office of Prime Minister. It's called "ANYONE BUT BIBI." For years when he had previously been PM, including the COVID lockdown, there had been weekly demonstrations near the official prime minister's residence calling for Bibi's ouster. This was hell for the neighbors, since the courts/judges insisted that in their superior wisdom, the demonstrators' rights trumped theirs. And when during the COVID lockdown schools, synagogues and many places of work had been forced to be closed, the judges decided that demonstrations must continue...

There was quiet during the year that Naftali Bennett's government stood, which continued when it fell and Yair Lapid was interim Prime Minister. Since Netanyahu returned to office not only have the demonstrations returned bigger and better equipped than before, but their spokespeople/leaders have become louder and more outrageous. Led by two former disgraced Prime Ministers, Ehud Olmert* and Ehud Barak** we now hear unabashed calls for rebellion and refusal to serve in the IDF. This is treason, no less. They are basically calling on the Israeli public to destroy the country. But the courts are in their favor and find nothing wrong.

These antigovernment demonstrations are very expensive to run. Who's funding them? It's no secret that money is coming from abroad, and some of that money has been traced to the American Government. Administrations led by Democrat Party Presidents do not like working with Netanyahu. Obama couldn't find his famous smile when posing with Bibi.

It's clear that there's something very dirty going on. These demonstrations, riots etc. have nothing to do with wanting democracy for the State of Israel. The leaders are bamboozling their followers with slogans. The street isn't democracy. Let's find out who's really behind this.

FOLLOW THE MONEY

*Olmert had spent time in jail convicted on corruption charges. 

**Barak is known to have been a good friend of disgraced Jeffrey Epstein, besides other problematic relationships

Israeli Elections 2022: The Coalition Competition Will be Fierce

 

Spare Ballots if Needed

Here's the Choice of Political Parties

The previous elections were about a year and a half ago, which seems like ages, considering that the previous few were closer together. Most of those elections ended without coalitions. As I've written a number of times, Bibi Netanyahu and his merry band discovered an easy way to power--- being the interim Prime Minister/Government. 

Well, now Likud hasn't been in power for over a year. For them to return, no matter how many MKs they have, they need to supplement the number so it reaches over sixty to have a majority coalition. But now, the cat's out of the bag, and sitting Prime Minister Yair Lapid can play the same trick if he convinces enough Knesset Members not to join with Netanyahu.

This should be fun to watch.

You may be wondering why I'm not cheering on a specific party or leader. Well, like many Israelis I'm not very enamored with the choices. It's like watching a football or basketball match when you just want to see their skills, and you don't care which team wins.

That may sound strange to you. We are discussing the government which has power over security, growth etc. I'm feeling rather jaded about it. I just keep remembering the excitement when certain people became Prime Minister, and then how they surprised us with policies totally opposed to their platform/ideology, totally opposed to mine, too. So, we'll see what happens and I'll decide issue by issue and pray very hard.

Letter in The Jerusalem Post

Great Show

I enjoyed reading Lahav Harkov's interview with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. I've been his supporter all along and first met him when he was head of Moetzet YESHA. 

There were little things I noticed in the interview, like using the correct craft/verb when describing his kippah as crocheted. But his politics is more important. It's amazing that he managed to put together this unlikely coalition especially when his "dowry" is miniscule. He's a full generation younger than Bibi, which shouldn't be forgotten. Bennett doesn't need to work, having made his fortune very, very young in hitech. 

Bennett doesn't claim to have a Right wing government, but policies aren't very different from decades of Likud. Please don't forget that there's hardly a Likud Prime Minister, if any, who didn't destroy Jewish communities, and that started with Menachem Begin. Bibi was no different. I remember hearing him say that although he talks "Right" he believes that as Prime Minister he needs to be in the Center. So I don't miss him and his mafia.

Bennett seems to have good control over the various issues Israel faces. I'm more nervous about when Lapid takes over. We'll see what happens. On the whole, I'm happy that the Bibi mafia is out. They found a way to stay in power "safely" by being perpetual "interim" governments sans coalition. Bennett and his coalition partners out-maneuvered them by doing the "impossible." Remember that the pundits claimed it wouldn't last a month....

I've been following Israeli politics closely for over half a century, and it's a great show!

Batya Medad, Shiloh

Quiet on The Coalition Building Front, Good or Bad?

Israel has been in the Election and Government coalition building mode for close to a year already. We've had two national Knesset Elections, and still Bibi's steering a "temporary," lame duck government.

After the first 2019 Elections, Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu, the sitting prime minister and #1 in Likud, was entrusted with forming a ruling coalition, because he appeared to be the only party leader with a chance. He failed. And Benny Gantz, head of the Blue & White Party didn't do what the wily and experienced Bibi would have tried. Gantz didn't work behind the scenes to craft a coalition and surprise the country with it at the Knesset vote to disband and call a second 2019 Knesset Elections.

2019 Knesset Elections Redo also ended with a tie. There are basically four blocs of Knesset Members:

• Right 
• Left 
• Hareidi (ultra-religious)
• Arab

Likud leads the Right, though it prefers calling itself Center, and Blue & White leads the Left, though it prefers calling itself Center. Please don't get too confused, because they define Center differently. "Center" is one of those code words that politicians think make them popular with citizens of all stripes, like parve food in a kosher kitchen which can be served with both meat or dairy.

Center doesn't work with me. I don't vote for anyone whose ideology is "get me elected." I must know what the person plans to do for the country, their vision, red lines etc.

Simply put, the Likud can work with the Hareidi, while Blue & White campaigned to delegitimize chareidim from Israeli society and government. Blue & White promised a chareidi-free government. Their stated reason is the lack of patriotism of the chareidi public and their relatively low IDF army service. They'd like the support of the Arabs instead, but truth be told, Arabs are even less patriotic and less apt to serve in the army. Hmmm... does that make sense?

The best way for one of the big parties to make a coalition is to get deserters from the other side. Or are we going to have elections yet again?

Israeli Elections 2019, 5779, Redo, Caution & Clarification

Israeli politics is a team sport, like football. If you can't or won't work with others, you won't succeed. 

1. In Israel we don't vote for the Prime Minister.
2. In Israel we vote for lists of potential Members of Knesset.
3. In Israel political parties and Knesset Members must join together, compromise, work together to form coalitions. 
4. Israel is governed by COALITION GOVERNMENTS headed by a Prime Minister.

Obviously this isn't easy. Being the Prime Minister of the State of Israel isn't a simple matter of just making decisions and giving orders. Actually the army isn't good training for national politics. 

It's not enough for an Israeli political party to get the most votes to make them the ruling party. When Zippy Livni headed Kedima, it got more votes than Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu's Likud, but she couldn't gather/negotiate a ruling coalition. Bibi could and formed the government as its Prime Minister. 

And a few months ago in the first Israeli Elections 2019, 5779, Likud scraped by with the most votes, but not enough MKs were willing to join a coalition with them. 

If the polls are right, Israeli Elections 2019, 5779, #2 will have the same basic results as #1. This can go on forever, because the political parties on the Left, Center-Left, including Avigdor Lieberman's,  have centered their platform on "Anyone but Bibi" as a coalition condition. Considering that polls consistently show Netanyahu as most popular for the position, we have a problem.

Who is more suited to serve as Prime Minister?
42% Netanyahu, 28% Gantz, 15% Don’t know, 4% Shaked, 3% Lieberman, 3% Peretz, 3% Barak, 2% Lapid

see Jeremy's Knesset Insider

To be truly successful in Israeli politics, one must be willing to work together and compromise. Gd willing, enough of those elected to the Knesset will put their egos aside and do what's best for the State of Israel.

Where's The Idealism in Israeli MKs?

Maybe I'm just too much a product of the idealist 1960s America. You can bookend my formative years with the most iconic line of John F Kennedy's Inaugural Address and the 1967 Six Days War.

“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.”

I somehow tweaked Kennedy's idealist and patriotic challenge and transferred my loyalty to the Jewish People, Jewish Religion and Jewish Land. Here I am a just over half a century later, not only living a Zionist version of Kennedy's ideal, but naively and idealistically expect to see that idealism in those elected to Israel's Knesset, the politicians.

Just weeks after the recent Knesset Elections, our experienced and wily Prime Minister Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu is ready to throw down the towel and give up trying to find enough MKs and political parties willing to work together, compromise and form a viable government coalition for the good of the State of Israel.

Bibi is my age and spent a lot of his youth in the United States. No doubt he is extremely familiar with Kennedy's cry to galvanize idealism for the good of the country. Unfortunately the attitude of most of the Israeli party leaders who should be negotiating with Netanyahu is horrendous. They each announce to the press that the will not compromise their cabinet demands, and they expect Bibi to give in. This is awful and bodes badly for Israeli society and the State of Israel.

We may need to go through elections yet again, Gd forbid.

There was a time when MKs were willing to cross lines and form National Unity Governments, but since Gantz, Lapid, Bogie and Ashkenazi made their entire campaign the demonization of Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu and insisted that they wouldn't work with him...  A National Unity Government isn't on the menu. The "Blue and White" wannabes didn't campaign that they'd put their egos aside and do what's best for the country.

So unless a miracle happens, we're going to be suffering through another few months of election litter.

May Gd help us.

Bibi's Latest Coalition Woes

Israeli Knesset Elections 2019 still aren't officially settled. Votes may have been counted, but the lame duck government is still holding court. That's because although the results may look like an "easy Right wing coalition" for sitting Prime Minister Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu, none of the potential coalition partners seem to have signed on the dotted lines. They're all making demands and even threats.

This is no doubt a "headache" for Bibi, but it is even worse news for the citizens of the State of Israel.

We don't see the newly elected Knesset Members as  idealists wanting to serve the State of Israel. We see a bunch of egotistical, immature selfish people who show no signs of willing to compromise and work together for the good of our country. Even the political parties which campaigned promising to support Netanyahu and the Likud are making trouble.

Netanyahu doesn't have too much time left to present a working coalition. Honestly, I don't blame him for the situation. And I don't believe the talk that he and his legal problems are to blame. If he really was corrupt, like Ehud Olmert who had to leave office, he'd be out of office and in court already.

I want to see the MKs lining up asking how to help and figuring out the coalition puzzle for the good of the State of Israel. We have a dangerous enemy that must be defeated, and we need a serious government in charge, not a bunch of selfish schemers.

Who's The Winner of the 2019 Knesset Elections? I Can Wait Until Morning

Tomorrow will be the 2019 Knesset Elections. The three main Israeli television stations/channels are promoting their overnight vote "count."

Well, count me out.

I'll be happy to wait until morning for the numbers, and then until whenever we hear about the deals to make a coalition. Believe me, Trump hasn't a clue about "deals." Forming a ruling coalition after these elections will make his Trump neighborhood on Manhattan's Westside look like a piece of cake, and his so-called "peace deal" will fall like poorly made souffle in a thunderstorm.

Local Shiloh Elections 5777, 2017
Nothing like the Knesset ones, except that I voted.

Finally, Farewell to Tsipi Livni, Failed Politician

It's hard to know where to start when discussing Tsipi Livni, who formally announced her exit from active politics today.

I was lucky to catch the live broadcast and to hear and watch it. And to make it even better was the interview from a few months ago, which they showed right afterwards.

Simply put, it was a rather pathetic end to the career of a woman, who had worked her way up the political ladder and got within millimeters of the premiership of the State of Israel. Livni succeeded Ehud Olmert as head of the then ruling Kadima Party, which they had established after breaking away from the Likud. Both Livni and Olmert had come from Betar-Revisionist homes but moved Leftward politically. When Olmert was forced to resign due to corruption indictments, Livni took over the party.

Under Livni's leadership Kadima received more Knesset seats than Likud in the 2009 elections, but she failed in the task of forming a ruling coalition. Likud's Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu succeeded in forming a coalition and has been Prime Minister ever since. This bit of history is very important in understanding the Israeli political system. It's not enough to have good ideas and policies to be Prime Minister of the State of Israel. You must be an extraordinary politician and be able to negotiate and work with people. And this also explains why the polls keep talking about Left and Right blocs. No Israeli Political Party will get over 50% of the votes, over sixty 60 of the one hundred and twenty 120 Knesset seats. An Israeli Prime Minister must be skilled at juggling while walking a circus tightrope.

Tsipi Livni not only failed in her attempt to form a coalition, the breakup of her later political "marriage" to the Labor party showcased her lack of true political skills. Today Livni's claim that her policies are the right ones, but it's her lack of political power that is stopping her, just shows how little she understands. She has insufficient political power, because not enough people like her, and they don't agree with her policies. It certainly hasn't helped that she's with a different party each election.

It's rather ironic that the extreme Left Meretz party is the only one to have shown up to show support to Livni today. But the truth is that Tsipi Livni has burnt too many bridges in her political career to be missed by ordinary Israelis.

Tsipi Livni's still young. Will she join other failed politicians like Ehud Barak on the international lecture circuit? Will she write her memoirs? No doubt we'll be hearing from her. International Leftist "think tanks" love our rejected and failed "leaders." She won't starve; that's for sure.

Remember: Even The Best of Election Polls are Inaccurate

Here in Israel the political parties are revving up their campaign machinery for the 2019 Knesset Elections. Once all the primaries and committees (depending on the political party) submit their lists of Knesset candidates, then election fever will really heat up. Like in all democracies, genuine ones at least, polling companies and experts are big business. And the polls can have a very dangerous influence on voter/results.

Even the best of polls only take "samples" of a small percentage of the potential voters. In Israel, that means that just a few hundred are considered sufficient for predicting what the entire country is going to vote.

"Midgam conducted a poll of 503 people with a 4.4% margin of error for Channel 12 that was broadcast on Feb 9 2019." See Jeremy's Knesset Insider.

Now, we all know that if we sniff out the politics of  people living in different locations, we're going to get very different, contrasting, conflicting opinions. Because of the large range of political parties here in Israel, which do make it to the Knesset, even people who profess the same ideology/opinion about issues will vote for different political parties.

Frequently, people will preface their opinion with the phrase "Everybody says/thinks..." Honestly, I hate that word "everybody," since there is no such animal.

Too many times, people are influenced by the polls. Either the campaign workers are overconfident and don't work hard enough. Or people think it's "wise" to change their vote to a political party they think won't get enough votes to make it to the Knesset. Sometimes people hear that their party or "side" hasn't a chance, so they don't even bother voting.

Some people who answer polls, purposely announce they're voting for a party they'd never vote for. It's a big joke for them. In addition, there are those who don't fully make up their mind until they're actually voting, or change their mind at the very last minute.

We should vote carefully, according to which party, or candidate we honestly feel will do the best job. And then pray that Gd will not only give them wisdom, but they will use their Gd given Free Will to do what's truly best for the public good.

Voting in The Likud Primaries, A Day in My Life...

Tuesday night, after a very full day, which included Rosh Chodesh Prayers at Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh, a reunion lunch with college friends, a dentist appointment, lunch at a son's home after some quality time with his baby, I finally made it to Binyanei Hauma to vote in the Likud Primaries.

Now, I must admit that I've probably never voted for the Likud in Knesset Elections, but I am a member of the party. That does sound strange, but if you understand the Israeli political system and history, there's a logical reason or two. This post isn't the place for an explanation, but if you're curious, please ask.

In theory I could have voted in Shiloh, where we had a polling station. Davka, in Shiloh voting would have been rather simple. That is if I had been home when it was open. I had carefully checked and calculated my day's plans and logistics and realized that I just didn't have time between the poll's opening and the bus to Jerusalem. Besides that, I sleep in Jerusalem Tuesday nights in order to get to Matan early Wednesday for my chevruta, group learning. 

By the time I was on my way to the #15 bus to Binyanei Hauma, I was exhausted and wondering how long it would all take. So far, none of my traveling had gone as simply as I had expected/planned.

After dovening at the Tel, I had waited at the bus stop to Jerusalem, and the efo bus app showed no sign of the expected bus. Finally, I got tremp after tremp to Jerusalem with enough time to drop off my bag, so I wouldn't have to schlep it around all day.

I ended up waiting a long time for the first leg of my trip to the dentist, because one of the scheduled buses never showed. And then I was shocked to discover that the route had changed. I would have saved time even walking from Cinema City to the String/Chords Bridge to catch the second bus. That's because there was a change in the route of the #15, which I was unaware of. The area around the central bus station was so awful, and the red lights so badly timed, that at least a half hour was added to my travel time. I had to call the dentist office to say that for the very first time, I'd be late instead of early.

Amazingly, the trip to  vote went very smoothly, but then I was stumped trying to find the underground passage to cross the street and then the entrance to Binyanei Hauma. There's so much construction, and it was dark where I needed light.

I was too stressed and rushed to photograph the outside of Binyanei Hauma when trying to enter. The whole area was full of tables and loudspeakers. Papers were all over the floor, and I was constantly accosted by campaign workers handing out promotional literature. I also recognized some well-known Likud ministers and MKs, who were trying last minute personal campaigning. I ignored them. With hundreds of candidates for a few slots, competition and bedlam were rampant. We could only vote for twelve 12, no more no less.

There were mobs of men and teens blocking the way, but finally I made my way in. And when I got to the area where it was forbidden to campaign, what a contrast. There was such silence and space.

All around the room there were tables staffed by two mostly young and very polite and helpful clerks who explained what to do. I was surprised and happy that the Likud gave up on high-tech voting, which it had tried a few times in the past.

Only after I had exited the building could I take the time to photograph the carnival scene. No doubt that the cleanup has been a challenge.

If you're interested in the results, read this and this.

Likud Primaries Today, Gevalt! Haven't a Clue

Today's the Likud Primaries. Somehow even though I've never voted Likud in Knesset Elections, I must have signed up as a Likud member. That means that out of some bank account, we pay dues. That gives me the privilege, and I'm not being all that sarcastic, to influence the rankings/chances of politicians and wannabes in Israel's ruling party.

In previous primaries, I'd had a pretty good idea of whom to vote for. But this time I really haven't paid much attention. But in a few hours I'm going to have to make a choice. There are a few "no ways," and some people I do want in.

The last thing I look for are the platforms and promises they make. That's because, are you shocked, people lie and/or hire slick writing teams. 

Gd willing some wise friends will call me with reliable advice. Otherwise, maybe I should just endendino, or as we say in English:

eenie meenie miney mo

Have You Heard The News?

Here I am voting in the most recent Knesset elections, March 2015

Bibi has called for elections. This year 5779 and soon 2019, Passover cleaning will also mean cleaning up all the campaign litter.  Yes, the date chosen is April 9, which is the 4th of Nissan, just a week and a half before the Passover Holiday. Yes, here in Israel we function on two calendars simultaneously.

And if you're curious, I haven't a clue as to which political party to support.

I don't know if I've ever voted for the Likud. The first time we voted, in 1974, there wasn't a Likud Party. There was Gahal, which was the Herut and Liberal parties. Herut, Freedom was headed by Menachem Begin. In those days, Begin was our political and ideological hero. And the Liberal Party was the non-socialist one. They were the two parties on the Right, while the Labor Party was on the Left, and the 1st of May was still celebrated by them.

We missed the 1977 elections, since we were on shlichut, doing Zionist youth work in London. Shlichim don't get absentee ballots, though embassy staff do.

When we returned home to Jerusalem, miraculously, Menachem Begin was Prime Minister. For the first time in Israeli history a non-Labor/socialist was in charge. But then Begin did what Labor never dared to do, something that Begin if in opposition would have condemned, he made a treaty Peace Agreement with Egypt's President Sadat, gave Egypt the Sinai and destroyed a slew of Jewish communities. After that I supported Geula Cohen's Techiya Party. I voted for them until they faded from the political scene, when they didn't get enough votes to make it into the Knesset. Since then I feel like a political orphan.

Over the next three and a half months, until Knesset Elections, I'll be in political pundit mode. Gd willing expect more posts. I warn you that I have more questions than answers. Let's talk. That's what my comments are for. Also please feel free to share this post and the subsequent ones.

What do you think? I welcome your comments.

Bibi's Still in The Saddle, Which is What Israelis Want

If you're interested in Israeli politics, keeping updated via Jeremy's Knesset Insider is a very good idea. Every week or so, Jeremy posts results of various political polls, which indicate how Israelis would most probably vote if elections were to be held "now." The only thing I can't stand about his blog is that the color graphics, white on dark green, make it very problematic to copy/paste on this blog. I have to change to colors.

One of my favorite poll questions is:

Who is most suited to be Prime Minister?

The Walla poll published on Nov 21 2018 asked it, and the results are:

36% Netanyahu, 14% Don’t know, 12% None of the above, 11% Gantz, 6% Saar, 6% Lapid, 5% Livni, 4% Bennett, 3% Gabbai, 2% Liberman

That means that both "don't know" and "none of the above" are more popular than the second most popular politician.

I've been following Israeli politics for half a century, and the very simple reason why Gantz did "so well," being number two albeit with only 11% of the vote is that he doesn't have a political track record. Even in Shiloh, where I've been part of the election committee for decades, the least known candidate frequently does amazingly well. "Familiarity breeds contempt" seems to be part of Israeli political culture, although the exception is Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

One thing you shouldn't forget is that here in Israel we don't vote for Prime Minister. We vote for Knesset lists in the form of political parties. To be Prime Minister, one has to be able to form/negotiate a coalition. That makes certain poll data most crucial:

the Right-religious/Center-Left numbers

The results have been pretty consistent, give or take a seat, for the longest time:

66 [66] Current Right-Religious Coalition
54 [54] Current Center-Left-Arab Opposition

They are the best reading of what Israelis want in a government. And the truth is that no matter when elections will be, whether this government lasts the full five years, or just close to it, the next Israeli Government will be very similar to today's.

Bibi, We Israelis are Totally Disgusted With Your Policies, Voices From The People

Even on the French English language tv news, best of the pathetic choice of news channels we have on our television, has been broadcasting how disgusted the Israeli public is with the farcical and dangerous so-called "ceasefire."

I don't think too many people believe anything that Avigdor Lieberman says or does. We've been watching him long enough to know that he's less reliable and more volatile than Prime Minister Bibi Binyamin Netanyahu. Most of us haven't a clue as to which party to vote for. In Israel one votes for political parties, which have lists competing for Knesset seats. The largest party gets a chance to form a coalition, with its leader, number 1, as Prime Minister. If they don't succeed, then the next largest party, or the party which the most others tell the president can form a coalition gets a chance. It's obvious that Lieberman has chosen this time, maximum a year before elections, to start maneuvering himself to the "Right" of Bibi to attract voters. Deja vu, he has done this sort of thing before.

Following are quotations from friends and various blog links about our feelings:

Praying for Relief

We are very VERY upset over this ceasefire which is not solving the problems we've been suffering for months: The incendiary balloons; the shelling of the Eshkol area and Sederot whenever the mood strikes Hamas, and not ending the violent weekly demonstrations that have led to incursions over our border. We've come out pf this like a dog with its tail between its legs. I personally am LIVID because I have NO DOUBT that if such things occurred in Tel Aviv, the govt would have acted much differently AGES ago. We have large swathes of land burnt to a crisp. Can you believe Batya that on one of the yishuvim on the border crops could not be planted because their yearly allotment of water had been used up by putting out fires???? WE ARE FED UP! It's not enough that we had a HORRIFIC 24 hours with well over 400 rockets; they now send the rockets at a much swifter pace than before one right after another, boom, boom, boom. I salute those manning the iron dome that they were able to keep up with the pace that Hamas set. We are tax paying citizens and our young people do NOT deserve to grow up in the shadow of such terror.

Ceasefire call was shameful! These kids are suffering.

They would NEVER EVER do this to kids in Tel Aviv. I'm so sick of this elitist government. All they care about is getting votes.

"About shooting at empty buildings: Buildings don't set up or send bombs, rockets, or bullets. Kill terrorists instead of letting them strike from another location."

"All of this could have been prevented if the prime minister would support a war to end all future attempts at war. Gaza should become a lifeless crater." Or use my quote that "We surrendered Gush Katif for peace? I want that land back!!!!!!!!!!"

The govt better get off it's behind (I'd use a different word but I'm polite) and DO something. Enough putting off the inevitable! The present situation (of incendiary balloons here in Netivot and all over the south; the huge swathes of land burnt to a crisp; the ongoing violent demonstrations almost daily) cannot go on! WE HAVE HAD IT! ENOUGH! You can quote me, Batya!

If You Condemned Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting But Not Rockets At Israel, You Are a Hypocrite

Another Round from Gaza

Just waiting

What is wrong here?
After 470 rockets and a ceasefire was called so that Egypt and UN can work out a permanent agreement.
Now Celebrations break out on the streets of Gaza after Hamas declares victory.
And once again the resident of the south have been abandoned by our government.
Residents of the south furious, are holding a demonstration at Tzomet Sderot.
Time for elections...

Trauma and Terror: The View from the South

Polls Show Strong Support for Likud

In the Israeli Election System, one votes for political parties, not for individual candidates.
The leader of the party getting the most votes, after the one-hundred-twenty seats of the Knesset are calculated, generally becomes Prime Minister. 

In at least one case, which I remember, the second largest party became the ruling party. That's because Israeli Governments are coalitions, and the leader of the largest party was incapable of forming one. You have to be a very skilled negotiator/politician to be Prime Minister of the State of Israel.

That's why I never take seriously those who state "-- would make a great Prime Minister," because of some clever or even super intelligent idea/policy/article etc. Being Prime Minister of the State of Israel is not for political amateurs. It's a super complex job, which not only includes the complex political situation in Israel but the super-complicated status Israel has internationally.

Even with all the complaints, and there are many, I have against Prime Minister Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu, it's impossible to imagine who can fill his well-crafted shoes.

The tiny State of Israel is a or the world leader, and many Israelis recognize this.

LIKUD POLLS AT RECORD HIGH AFTER TRUMP DECISION
The poll found that if an election were held now, Netanyahu’s Likud party would rise from its current 30 Knesset seats to 35, up from the 28 predicted by the same pollster just two weeks ago on April 23 and the best the Likud has fared in Midgam polls in a decade.

Israeli Political/PM Election System Made "Simple"

Last night I caught a few seconds of the TV news from which I heard Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu saying that unless his coalition partners insist otherwise, he plans on having them serve out their full term. That would give them another year and a half in government.

The Israeli Electoral System makes polling very risky. That's because you vote for a political party, and its list of potential Knesset Members. The head of the party which, post-elections, can form a coalition becomes Prime Minister. That's one of the reasons why in recent elections many more people end up voting Likud than voting for the party they had indicated for the poll, if asked.

You may like the ideology/platform of a certain party, but its leader seems totally incompetent as potential Prime Minister. So, a certain percentage of voters find themselves taking the Likud ballot, even though it's not their prefered party.

Here I am voting in the 2015 Knesset Elections

This trend can be seen very easily if you read the polls. Taken from Jeremy's site.

Panels conducted a poll that was broadcast by Walla News on March 8 2018.

Current Knesset seats in [brackets]

30 [30] Likud

Who is most suited to be Prime Minister?

39% Netanyahu, 34% Don’t know/Other, 16% Lapid, 11% Gabbai

Can Netanyahu fulfill his job as Prime Minister?

52% Yes, 42% No, 6% Don’t know

A poll, like this, showing thirty 30 seats, out of the one hundred and twenty 120, for Likud means that only one quarter, 25% of the voters are thinking of voting Likud. But in that very same poll, you see that 39% of those polls see Netanyahu as "most suited to be Prime Minister," and his runner-up is "34% Don’t know/Other."

And please don't claim that "voting districts" will make the system easier. That would be a totally hellish nightmare. Have you ever heard of GERRYMANDERING?

A "Joke" of a Party- Politics!

You need a sense of humor and imagination at times to follow Israeli politics. Many times, pretty much before every Knesset election, some backer comes up with a "tasters menu" of losers and wannabes to run together as a "great white hope" political party.

Even if these new parties make it into the Knesset, they are a disaster, as they have nothing but ambition and failures in common. The latest such Frankenstein being touted, still nameless of course, though backed by a group of reform-minded sic activists called “Beshvil (For) Yisrael,” would include Adina Bar-Shalom, the daughter of the late Chief Rabbi of Israel and cofounder of the Shas party Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, Yeruham Mayor Michael Biton and breakaway MK Orly Levy-Abekasis daughter of  popular former MK and Minister David Levy.

After following Israeli politics almost half a century, nothing is really new to me. I've seen and heard it all before. None of these politicians, and you don't have to be an MK to be one, show real leadership and trustworthiness. I can easily see how many polls asking Israelis who's best for Prime Minister show "none of the above" as first choice.

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach

Have a Peaceful and Blessed Shabbat Everyone

Demonstrations aren't the Way to Change Government Leaders

This post is in essence a continuation of yesterday's If Bogie's the Alternative, I'll Stick With Bibi. In replying to comments I realized that I hadn't fully expressed my thoughts about those demonstrations. This also connects to my horror and unease at the trends in the United States concerning the riots after last year's Presidential Elections.

In principle I totally oppose using demonstrations to change or protest governmental leaders. That's the job of elections in a democratic society.

The main principle of democracy is that we have to accept the sometimes unpleasant fact, that our prefered candidate may lose.

If our prefered candidate loses, we must accept it. Our reaction may be sadness and disappointment, but we aren't to hold demonstrations or riots about it in protest.

In a democracy there are procedures and governmental bodies to police officeholders. Demonstrating to force someone out of office is not only undemocratic/antidemocratic, it's fascist. Yes, that's what happens in countries that don't follow the law.

I am extremely unhappy with the so-called "anti-corruption" demonstrations going on here in Israel. They are to force the hand of the already Left wing judiciary and the police. That is against democratic principles. The backers and initiators of this "movement" have a definite agenda. They want their people in power, whether legally elected or not.

Therefore I will not attend or support those demonstrations in any way or form!

local elections in Shiloh

Israeli Politics, Polls and Predictions

Considering that the norm in Israel is to have elections earlier than legally scheduled, the country always suffers a form of "election fever." Yes, think of it as a chronic "infection."

There's never a guarantee that your vote will produce an MK here in Israel.

Besides scheduled Knesset, remember that here the MKs are elected on party lists, not as individuals, Elections, there are two basic ways that elections can be called. One is that the ruling coalition loses a crucial vote which "brings down the government," and the second way is for the sitting Prime Minister to "call for early elections."

The Opposition has to grow to a considerable parliamentary strength for the first, which means that coalition MKs must have deserted the ship. Prime Ministers usually call for early elections when they think they can improve and expand their coalition. But that is risky, because as PM Netanyahu recently discovered; polls can change in a jiffy.

It's no secret that two young party leaders are dreaming of unseating long-serving Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. They are Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett.

Bennett is trying to do it from the inside and the Right. Leader of the NRP, now called Bayit Yehudi-Jewish Home, Bennett has had a rather turbulent relationship with Bibi. He's trying to make history by radically changing the NRP from perennial sidekick to national leadership.

Yair Lapid came from the Left, forming his own party, which has been evolving to more Center Right in his quest for the "big prize." And recent polls show that his Yesh Atid, There's a Future, is running neck and neck with Netanyahu's Likud.

Channel 10 Poll: Likud 26, Yesh Atid 25, Bayit Yehudi 13, Joint List 13, Zionist Union 10; Yaalon 0

But it's very possible that Lapid will have the same unpleasant experience that Tsipi Livne had a few years ago when she was at the helm of Kadima. Even though Kadima had scraped by with more MKs, than the Likud she wasn't able to form a ruling coalition. Bibi succeeded, and Tsipi is now just a postscript in Israeli political history.

Remember that Netanyahu hasn't lasted as Prime Minister all this time by chance. He's a very experienced and wily politician. I don't think that Bennett or Lapid will have an easy job unseating him. They'd have to join forces, sort of like the rotation that Labor and Likud tried in 1984 when Yitzchak Shamir and Shimon Peres took turns as Prime Minister. Yes, that's pretty hard to imagine, but the Shamir-Peres deal also seemed more like Political Science Fiction.

And what do you think?