Israeli Arab parties to run as one list in upcoming elections - Polidicks

[QUOTE]After weeks of discussions, politicians agree to run together; move follows earlier passing of law to raise election threshold. The Arab factions in the Knesset will run together on a united list, it was announced Thursday after serious political arguments that occurred over the last month.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]A poll that same month said almost half of Israeli-Arabs wanted MK Ahmed Tibi to lead a united Arab faction, and found that 62 percent of Israeli Arabs planned to vote in the upcoming elections, compared to 56 percent who voted in 2013, and 53 percent who voted in 2009.[/QUOTE] This is incredibly important. For the first time in, ever, I think, the Israeli Arab vote will go to one major party instead of fragmenting between multiple opposing small parties. This means that for the first time the Arab vote actually matter, as they will be one of the largest parties in these elections and will be able not only to influence the final outcome of the elections and the identity of the new government, but actually get stuff done for their sector instead of just standing on the sidelines. By the way, if there's any interest I can try and do a small breakdown of the parties running for election this March. It should also give you a good idea of the common opinions among the Israeli public.

While political diversity is usually good, sometimes it's better to find that which unites us in order to get things done. Some might worry this could increase tensions politically in the country, but I feel it is far better to have a system in which multiple parties have influence than the monoply of one or two parties. Now what could be interesting is to see how the Jewish marjorty parties respond with their own solidarty or if we actually get to see more interesting debate over the future of the country.

How does Netanyahu feel about this?

[QUOTE=ScumBunny;47012453]By the way, if there's any interest I can try and do a small breakdown of the parties running for election this March. It should also give you a good idea of the common opinions among the Israeli public.[/QUOTE] I'm interested

[QUOTE=smurfy;47012808]I'm interested[/QUOTE] Alright. I'll try writing it up after work. Hopefully the kids will go to sleep somewhere in the general area of their designated bed times.

Here goes. The elections are in March 2015. Rules: 120 mandates. Each mandate is worth one Knesset (parliment) member, for a total of 120. The party that is most likely to put together a coalition of 60 Knesset members gets to lead the government. That means you don't need the most votes to win the elections. Issues: Two major issues will decide what most Israelis will vote on: 1. Politics/security: who is best equipped to deal with the threats to Israel, currently Iran and the Palestinians. Or as Netanyahu puts it: who would you rather picked up the red phone in the middle of the night. Traditionally the most important issue, if not the only one. 2. Economy/price of living: in the last few years the prices of everything from housing to cheese have shot through the roof, making most Israelis more and more concerned with that. Supposedly even more so than with the Palestinians. We'll see. Parties: Here's [URL="http://elections.walla.co.il/item/2821794"]Walla[/URL]'s latest survey results. It also includes the results of the previous survey from the 15th (the smaller numbers). [IMG]http://msc.wcdn.co.il/w/w-635/1842394-5.jpg[/IMG] HaMahane HaZioni ("The Zionist Camp")- 25-26 mandates The party formerly known as HaAvoda (Labor), Israel's funding and long time ruling party, until the Likud took over. Made a surprise comeback from near death, and in a sneaky move also renamed itself to something more patriotic sounding than all the right wing parties. Alignment: Center-left Leader: Isaac "Boojie" Herzog, Tzipi Livni will take turns leading the party. Politics: Pro-peace, has relatively few generals, which could be an issue for security oriented voters. Economy: In favor of government intervention as needed to get prices back down, help the needed and get national resources back from tycoons to the people. Recently presented a team of candidates with young activists that were leaders of the social justice protests (our equivalent of Occupy Wallstreet) which is attractive to social justice voters, but could be a problem when the party has to make concessions to other parties to get them in their coalition. Likud ("Union") - 24 mandates The current ruling party, on account of being the most flexible when it comes to principles and the most ruthless when it comes to fucking over opponents and partners alike. Alignment: Chaotic evil Okay Center-right/far-right/center depending of what other party they need to appease. Leader: Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu. Politics: Maintain the status-quo, contain the Palestians, scare everyone about Iran. Do not advance the peace process at any costs. Economy: Tycoons are your friends. Give them everything. Tell the people it's for their own good. HaBait HaYehudi ("The Jewish Home") - 16-18 mandates The settler party. Lead by a charismatic hi-tech mogul that acts like he's your buddy. Has a whole bunch of other candidates that are radical right wing settler nutjobs. Leader: Naftali Bennett Alignment: Hard right Politics: Settlements are the most important thing. Also fuck the Palestinians. Economy: Pro-employers, anti-employees. Bennett has recently said if the employees of a company manage to unionize than the company has failed. The Arab Party - at least 11 mandates Stiched together from a whole bunch of opposing Arab parties that can only agree on one thing: they're not fans of the whole Jewish state idea. Leader: Ahmed Tibi Alignment: Hard left Politics: Pro-Palestinains. Economy: Somewhere between socialist and communist, depends on the specific party. Will not participate in any coalition government despite their size, but will likely recommend Boojie for prime minister, to Bibi's great horror. Yesh Atid ("There is a Future")- 8-9 mandates The former elections' Great White Hope, promised to stand up for the middle class and fight the ulra-orthodox, then joined Bibi's government and did pretty much nothing. And then got in a slap fight with him and he collapsed the government. Leader: Yair Lapid Alignment: Center, maybe? Politics: I dunno, whatever. Economy: Help out the middle class. Fuck the lower classes and the ultra orthodox. Supposedly we should be sticking it to the tycoons as well but, meh. Kulanu ("All of Us") - 8 mandates Were supposed to be this elections' Great White Hope, with a leader that is considered to be incredibly social and credited with breaking the cellphone provider's choke hold on the market and ending their monopoly. Leader: Moshe Kachlon Alignment: They don't say, but probably right Politics: See alignment Economy: Will crush the monopolies and tycoons and bring down the prices of everything and also free puppies. Unfortunately for them they presented very meh candidates and are failing to gain momentum. Yahadut Hatora/Shas ("Judaism of the Torah" and, uh, "Shas") - 15-16 mandates together The Ashkenazi and Sepharadi ultra orthodox parties. Look out for their own and will probably sit in any coalition as long as they get what they want for their public. Hate Lapid, will need extra lubrication to sit in a coalition with him. Israel Beitenu ("Israel our Home")- 5-6 mandates and dropping Ran with Bibi in the previous elections and split after that. Used to be where the Russian immigrants vote went. A right wing, secular party founded by immigrants. Currently under investigation for a fuckton of corruption. Apparently almost anyone they had in office in this government was involved is bribery and embezzlement. They're bleeding voters like you wouldn't believe. They might not survive until the elections. Meretz ("Vigor" or "Speed") - 5 mandates The Israeli left. Pro peace, pro wefare state. Lost votes to the Zionist Camp because they're so damn left and social right now, but has their traditional liberal urbanite hipster voter base to count on. So this is where we are right now, but a lot can change until March. If nothing else, this shows how ridiculously un-monolithic the Israeli public is about pretty much everything. Also a lot of our leaders have dumb nicknames.

Could you post your source?

That's not a subjective view of the Israeli parties at all, no :v:

[QUOTE=Carlton Dance;47015384]Could you post your source?[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;47015439]That's not a subjective view of the Israeli parties at all, no :v:[/QUOTE] The above is all personal opinion, obviously. So no source other than the Walla! link above for the survey results.