Israeli Elections 2013: An Open Thread
by Chas Newkey-Burden
Israel goes to the polls today and it would be great to know what you think.
Israelis, who are you voting for and who do you expect to be the winners and losers?
Those outside Israel, what are your feelings as the story unfolds in the hours and days ahead?
To get the ball rolling, I’ll say this: those who believe a right-wing administration equals the death of the peace process should recall how it has often been right-wing Israeli PMs who have made concessions. Menachem Begin made peace with Egypt, Benjamin Netanyahu handed most of Hebron to the Palestinians in the 1990s, and Ariel Sharon withdrew from Gaza.
That said, as I look at the likely outcomes of Tuesday’s vote, I am hardly bursting with Rabin-era enthusiasm. I wonder what proportion of the Arab electorate will show up to the polls, and what effect that could have on the outcome.
Two quick ‘election broadcasts’:
This lad thinks Israel should definitely vote for Bibi:
Whereas I’d love you to read about the newly-formed NaNach party, which is headed by Sharon Knafo, who miraculously survived a terror attack in Jerusalem in 2001.
Over to you. What is your take on it all?