Israeli Politics Thread

[Zevico]

Mafdal=National Religious Party, for those who may not know...
But Meretz with Sharon? And Labor? It just seems a bit dangerous. It seems as if they will have a leftist policy in economy. And they'll probably try to push Sharon to go leftwards foreign/economic policy-wise in order to gain attention and differentiate themselves from Sharon. He might tolerate the economic aspect to an extent but it seems that in terms of national security he may not be so willing, as his departure from the Likud demonstrates (eg perhaps he will not want as many pullouts, or indeed any inthe future term). This coalition just doesn't seem very stable, it seems to me. Peretz will have to talk big and more importantly, he will have to talk against Sharon. I dunno. Do you think it'll last, Az?

[Az]

e might tolerate the economic aspect to an extent but it seems that in terms of national security he may not be so willing, as his departure from the Likud demonstrates (eg perhaps he will not want as many pullouts, or indeed any inthe future term).

I think you've failed to understand the move - Sharon left Likud precisely due to the spoonloads of **** he had to eat from his own party. He's breaking left, hard.

[Eli]

Ugh.

****ing morons. When you have a serious opponent(Peretz) the smart thing to do is unite, not split.

I predict: Sharon's party will be seen a center party filled with superstars without a real ideology. He will start losing votes to the Likud, and Peretz will be stealing votes from both of them.
End result: Peretz wins, Likud and Kadima are behind with similar numbers. Sharon retires, he wont be a mere Defense Minister, Kadima joins the Peretz coalition and disbands by the next elections with it's members returning to their original places in the Likud or Labor.

I dont know who I'll be voting for. I dont believe a word Sharon says but I dont want Peretz to win. I'll probably wait for the final polls and vote for whoever has more chances to defeat the Labor, hopefully it will be the Likud.

As usual, choosing between the bad, the very bad and the absolutely wrong.

[Edan]

Originally posted by Bosh
It seems like the coalition building is going to be hellish this time around. Labor is moving left and (probably) won't want to be in a coalition with Sharon since they just left a coalition government led by him

But it was a Likud government led by him. Sharon's government is, IIUC, supposed to be centrist (socially, economically and foreign policy wise), which might make a coalition more attractive.

So what coalition is viable? I don't think that Sharon would be able to round up enough small parties to patch a coalition together...

I'm no expert, but I think the likeliest coalitions would be:

Kadima + Labor + Shinui
or
Kadima + Labor + UTJ (IIUC, they were in Sharon's coalition during the withdrawal).

Meretz is to leftist for Kadima, I think, and would tilt the coalition more leftwards.

I guess there's also the possibility of Labor + religious parties.

Kadima + religious parties or Kadima + Likud wouldn't serve Sharon's interests (not unless Likud were willing to gie up much say in order to have some cabinet ministers.)

[Az]

So, Eli, why do you hate Peretz so much?

I have a new reason to hope for a labor win - to make Eli unhappy

Personally, I don't think that Sharon will lose votes to the Likud. The Likud is in deep ****, and I have no idea how it will float back.

[Az]

Meretz is to leftist for Kadima, I think, and would tilt the coalition more leftwards.

How is meretz too leftist for Kadima?

[Eli]

So, Eli, why do you hate Peretz so much?

When did you stop beating your wife?


I hate no one. There is no place for these stuff in mature politics.

Peretz is half a political map away from me in both security and economy. That's a distance big enough to move from simply not voting for him as I would've done with the more moderate Labor leaders, to voting against him.

My original intention was to vote for one of the tiny parties like the Greens or the mj legalization party, hoping they will manage to enter the Knesset and add some fresh air and ideas. With an Internationale singing unions leader as a strong contestant, the tiny parties will have to wait.

[Edan]

Originally posted by Az

Meretz is to leftist for Kadima, I think, and would tilt the coalition more leftwards.

How is meretz too leftist for Kadima?

My understanding, is that Meretz wants a complete, unilateral withdrawal to 1967.

Also, If Sharon wants his coalition to be centrist, he's probably going to want to pull in parties from both side, rather than just the left.

[Az]

My understanding, is that Meretz wants a complete, unilateral withdrawal to 1967

your understanding is wrong.

[Edan]

Originally posted by Az
your understanding is wrong.

OK

[Az]

Peretz is half a political map away from me in both security and economy. That's a distance big enough to move from simply not voting for him as I would've done with the more moderate Labor leaders, to voting against him.

My original intention was to vote for one of the tiny parties like the Greens or the mj legalization party, hoping they will manage to enter the Knesset and add some fresh air and ideas. With an Internationale singing unions leader as a strong contestant, the tiny parties will have to wait.

Wait, so you actually would rather have Sharon, or Bibi?

[Eli]

They all suck.

Voting for Bibi would've been a good option if he wasnt encumbered with the corrupt, populistic skeleton of the Likud.

Sharon is slimy. He has no real positions. He plays the role of the old tribal elder, wisened after his stormy youth, expecting people to vote for him not because of some concrete opinions, but just because what he is.

With Peretz and Bibi I at least know what I vote for.

And still, yes, I'd rather have Bibi or Sharon instead of Peretz.

[Az]

Yes, but you're scum, so you don't count.

Seriously, though, I don't see any reason for Sharon to be a player. He knows this is his last term. Yes, he's vague, but that's just because he doesn't want to scare anyone away ( though Peretz brough honesty and clarity back en vogue)

And believe me when I say to you that I think Sharon is the biggest liar in Israeli politics. I just don't see any benefit from this to him.

[Last Conformist]

Obligatory pensions? I'm rather surprised to learn that Israel doesn't have those already.

Media here has been portraying Peretz as some sort of extremist - shall I take it this is wrong?


Anyway, let's nuke ya'll. You don't have any oil anyways.

[Az]

Obligatory pensions? I'm rather surprised to learn that Israel doesn't have those already.

Not just the government social security. He wants every worker, no matter where they work to get a pension fund from their employers.

Media here has been portraying Peretz as some sort of extremist - shall I take it this is wrong?

Umm, yes and no. He's an extremist in the sense that he changed people's priorities in voting. This is going to be the first election in years to be centered around economics as the main issue. He does support more government owned corporations, and supports a dramatic hike in minimum wages - but I doubt he'll be able to pull of the first part.

Anyway, let's nuke ya'll. You don't have any oil anyways.

Yes, but we have nukes.