Two new polls released by Israeli television channels 10 and 2 have given the opposition, Zion Union Party, a slim four point lead over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right wing Likud Party in the today’s elections. Never before has the world been watching tiny Israel’s democracy so intensely.
“People want change. They’re talking about social and economic issues. These issues are having more weight than in any other election,” Israeli pollster Raffi Smith said regarding the most important issues in the election. The most recent conflict, came over the summer when a war broke out after three Israeli teens were kidnapped and later found dead, sparking fighting that lasted from June until the middle of July.
In a recent move that has angered politicians here in the United States and may have worked against sitting the Prime Minister, Netanyahu addressed the America’s Congress on March 3rd, warning against making a deal with Iran over its nuclear program. Iran is currently negotiating with the Obama Administration and American allies in Switzerland.
The move may have worked against the Prime Minister because was seen by many to show that he is too focused on national security and the issue of a nuclear Iran and not on the economic issues that many Israelis care about. There is also a widely held belief that Israeli voters have become fatigued after years of conflicts that may bode ill for the ruling party. Netanyahu has been in office since March of 2009.
“Netanyahu has been in power for quite a few years, and I don’t think anyone’s happy with the way the country is going,” said Godi Wolfsfeld, a Political Science professor at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzilya.
The opposition Zionist Union, under the leadership of Isaac Herzog, is expected to win three more seats than the Likud party, but would still have to govern by a coalition. The Israeli Parliament, known locally as the Knesset, has a total of 120 seats with 34 parties having competed in 2013.
“I will not be elected if the gap is not closed and there is a real danger that Tzipi and Bougie (Herzog’s nickname) will form the next government,” Netanyahu said on Friday, urging his supporters to get out and vote.
At the same time, challenger Isaac Herzog, promised Sunday to, “safeguard Jerusalem and it’s residents in actions, not just words, more than any other leader”, which may be perceived to be a swipe at the current Prime Minister.
Ultimately, as Spinoza said, “if you want the present to be different from the past, study the past”. As we shall see in the next few days, this has turned into a very important election that may help determine the future for Israel, the Middle East and the United States – certainly one that should be followed closely.
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