Yechimovich Invites Livni to meet by 'SMS'

Yechimovich sent a SMS message to Tzipi Livni during the channel 2 broadcast, responding to her call for a united front by the center-left parties, inviting her to meet.

Poll: Netanyahu Best Suited as Prime Minister by 43%, Compared to 27% Livni-Yechimovich-Lapid Combined

With less than three weeks before the upcoming elections on Jan. 22, a poll conducted by the New Wave Research firm for Israel Hayom shows the Likud Beitenu maintaining a substantial lead over the other parties, with 34 Knesset seats, Labor in second place with 16 Knesset seats, only two seats more than the Bayit Yehudi — which polls at 14 seats.

According to the poll, 60% of respondents said they will definitely vote on Jan. 22. If you take into account the additional respondents who said that there was a 75% chance that they would vote, you get a projected turnout of close to 75%, which is high in comparison with previous elections.

While Likud's opponents from the Center-Left are campaigning to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming he has failed and that he is not fit to continue to serve as Prime Minister, the Israeli public feels differently.

When asked about the suitability of the various candidates for the position of prime minister, there was a huge gap between Netanyahu and the rest of the candidates combined. 43.2% of respondents said that Netanyahu was best suited for the position, while Tzipi Livni was described as best suited for the post by a mere 12.9%, Yechimovich by 10.3% and Yair Lapid by 3.6%. Thus grant Netanyahu a huge upper-hand against his so-called opponents, by 43-27 percent.

Livni: Center-Left must Unite to Beat Netanyahu

Tzipi Livni appearing Friday night on Channel 2's 'Ulpan Shishi' program called for Shelly Yechimovich and Yair Lapid to meet as early as Saturday night to unite in a joint mission to defeat Prime Minister Netanyahu, and form a center-left front prior Jan. 22 to have an impact on the election results.

Livni said that such a meeting, with the two other leaders of center-left parties, must take place as soon Saturday.

"There are three parties that share their beliefs in one central issue: we believe that the government that will be established will lead to the downfall of the state of Israel," Livni added. "This is our goal – to replace the current government, and it's important that the public will know that it is voting for a group that is sticking together."

Tzipi Livni indicated that she might give up on her previous demand to be number 1, which foiled the attempt to unify the 3 parties last month, saying personal issues are not on the table at this point.s voters must know that regardless of whom they like and prefer, they should vote for either party, believing that the three have a unified mission to replace Netanyahu as Prime minister with someone of the center-left bloc.

‘Likes’ and Retweets’ Serves Knesset Parties as Tool to Target Anglo Vote

In an election that every vote counts, the major political parties are reaching out to English-speaking voters through the Internet and social media, hoping to translate Facebook "likes" into votes at the polls on January 22. 

The sole exception is the Labor Party, which so far has no English section on its website and no English-language Facebook presence, Haaretz notes.  Yisrael Beiteinu's English-language Facebook page garnered nearly 4,500 likes as of Thursday; Yesh Atid's English page has 644 likes. Likud Anglos, which has 516 likes, is no longer affiliated with the campaign, said executive director Daniel Tauber.

Likud Beitenu TV Ad: Bibi Presents Achievements on Regional Map

Likud Beitenu Focusing on GOTV Voter Database

The Likud Beitenu campaign is investing a lot of money in expanding its voter base ahead of election day. according to a report on Channel 2, the Likud will begin using a new telephone system that will enable an early detection of supporters for the party, prior to the election date. In the coming days  three million citizens will receive a phone call that will start with a personal recording of the Prime Minister, calling on them to join him, and his base of supporters with the push of a button.

By pressing #1, the voter will be entered in a database that will be uploaded on a cellphone application, that will give poll watchers on election day the ability to look up the names, and find out whether the supporters turned out to vote. 

Lapid Rules out Sitting in Right-Wing Government

Yair Lapid, head of the Yesh Atid party, announced Thursday evening that his party would not join a nationalist government headed by Likud – Yisrael Beitenu. 

"To all those who asked," he wrote on his Facebook page, "Of course we will not sit as a fifth wheel in a government of Shas and the extreme right." "On the other hand – if we have enough Knesset seats, maybe we can establish a completely different government," Lapid added. "A moderate, centrist government in which we will be able to pass a law for an equal share of the burden, which will not pour billions into yeshivas and illegal outposts outside the settlement blocs, and that will take care of education and housing, and of the Israeli middle class." 

Left Wing Israelis Give Their Votes to Palestinians in Facebook Campaign

In an act of protest one can only find in the world of social media, left-wing activists opened a Facebook page where Israelis are urged to “hand over” their voting rights to Palestinians, Ami kaufman writes in +972 Magazine.

On December 26, 2012, a new Facebook page was created, called “Real Democracy.” The basic idea behind it is that Israelis “give up” their vote in the upcoming elections to any of the millions of Palestinians under Israeli rule who have no right to vote. It’s all done on Facebook. The Israeli posts a status saying he/she’s willing to do it, the Palestinian tells him/her who to vote for.

Wow Globes/Smith Poll: Likud Beitenu 32; Bayit Yehudi 16

The Likud Beitenu list continued its downward spiral in a Smith Research poll taken Tuesday and Wednesday for The Jerusalem Post and  Globes, to a new low of only 32 seats. Labor also dropped to 17 projected seats, while the Bayit Yehudi continued its surge forward, nearly passing Labor into second place with 16 seats, compared to 14 last week and nine at the end of October.

The rest of the parties remained relatively consistent, with Shas, Yesh Atid, and the Tzipi Livni Party winning 10 seats; United Torah Judaism five, Meretz, Hadash, and Balad four; United Arab List-Ta'al and Am Shalem three and Kadima two.

Likud Minister Urges Not to Vote for 'Homophobic and Dark' Bayit Yehudi List

"In 2013 there are still 'Homophobic' Knesset candidates who hold dark views, such as preventing gays and lesbians to join the IDF," Minister Limor Livnat (Likud) wrote in a Facebook Statues today. 

"I think there is a duty to 'take out of the closet' those candidates with these dark views opinions, so voters can really decide whether they want to select them," referring to some of the Bayit Yehudi's party list candidates who have waged comments against same gender equality and equal representation for women.

"Like the Prime Minister and other senior Likud members, I fought all my public life for gender equality and against discrimination of sexual orientation. Don't make the mistake - voting for and strengthening the Bayit Yehudi (Jewish Home) may drag us tens and hundreds of years back," she stressed.

Media Catches up on The Bayit Yehudi's Radical and Chauvinist Side

A review of the top 15 spots on the party's Knesset ticket by Ynet, motivated by the Likud Beitenu campaign, shows that quite a few radical-leaning politicians stand behind the party's chairman, Naftali Bennett. Some of them have caused a stir with comments made about gays and lesbians, same-sex marriages and women's rights.

Second on the party list is MK Uri Ariel, currently chairman of the State Control Committee and a member of the Judicial Selection Committee. Ariel is regarded as having extreme right-wing opinions, and in the past has come out against the enlistment of homosexuals.

Secret Document Reveals Yisrael Beitenu Agreement with Likud

Russian portal IzRus has published the most important pieces of a secret document obtained, that sheds light on the allied strategy of Yisrael Beitenu and Likud party in the formation of the next government.

According to the document, Netanyahu has committed to give the Yisrael Beitenu faction 7.6 ministerial portfolios in the next government. Lieberman intends to demand the Ministry of Construction, Interior, Homeland Security, Agriculture and absorption. The document states that the control of the first four departments will NDI monopolize "the land issue." This also serves as a condition for the fulfillment of one of the three key objectives pursued by the party in the next government - the construction and modification of the criteria of distribution of subsidized public housing.

Yair Shamir to Bloomberg News: The Palestinians 'Stupidly' Passed on Bright Economic Future

Yechimovich Drops Opposition Bomb, Pledging Not to Join Gov'T

After months of refusing to address the issue, losing her number 3 amir Peretz, who defected to join Tzipi livni’s party, Labor leader Shelly Yechimovich explicitly stated on Thursday that she will not join a coalition headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"I aspire to be elected prime minister, but if I'm not, I will head the opposition," she said at a meeting attended by Labor Knesset members and candidates.

Yechimovich told reporters the decision came in response to the radical turn that Likud's positions have taken recently.

Poll: Shas 2nd Victim Losing Votes to Bayit Yehudi; Likud Strongest Amoung Young Voters

Shas is the 2nd on the list to lose a substantial amount of votes to Naftali Bennett's Bayit Yehudi party, who has suprisingly gained five seats in the past week to a total of 18 projected seats if elections were held today, according to a Geocartography poll conducted for Reshet Bet. Shas would receive only 8 seats.

The joint Likud Beitenu list seemed to have stalled its downwards trend, with 35 seats, and with the strongest base of certain voters (78%  are certain about their vote). Labor party would receive 18 seats, however, only 58% are most certain about their vote, the poll shows.

VIDEO: Naftali Bennett Rips Hamas for 'Taliban State' Opposing 'Women and Gay Rights'

Lapid: Israel "Too Oppressive, Too Stressed, Too Tense."

In a Reuters profile interview with Allyn Fisher-Ilan, Yair Lapid, Yesh Atid Chair, painted Israel as an oppressive country, lacking equality and social reform. "This place that was supposed to be this safe haven for Jews has become too oppressive, too stressed out, and too tense. So you know we can find ourselves with better lives in Miami, or in Montreal or London," Lapid said.

Livni: Female politicians must either be bitches or they're weak

Female political leaders are perceived either as bitches or weak, with no middle ground, Hatnuah Chairwoman Tzipi Livni said on Tuesday at an event in Haifa about the image of women in politics. 

"When you look at women in positions of leadership, the choice for women is either to be bitches or to be weak," Livni said. "When I started I was tougher, I don't want to say bitchy. It was hard for me to be open, to show sensitivity. I thought that this would be perceived as weakness."

Livni, a former foreign minister, said that when she entered politics "it seemed to me as if there was no difference between feminine and masculine leadership. When I understood how I was perceived, I realized that I should exert more power and show less openness."

Likud Beitenu Undergoes Dramatic Shift of Strategy to Regain Momentum

Amid the continuous downfall in the polls over the past two weeks and the rise of the Bayit Yehudi on the expense of Likud Beitenu, campaign strategist Artur Finkelstein returned last night to Israel to reassess and advise campaign.

According to Rinah Matzliach, political correspondent for Channel 2, Likud strategist Arthur Finkelstein arrived in Israel Tuesday and met Wednesday with Netanyahu and the heads of the Likud campaign. He advised them to stop attacking Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett but to reveal extremist and chauvinist statements made by candidates on the Bayit Yehudi list.

Lieberman: Internal Poll Shows Likud Beitenu at 37 Seats

Yisrael Beytenu Chairman and #2 on the Likud Beitenu Knesset list revealed minutes ago at a campaign event that was streamed live on UStream, an internal poll that was conducted by Yossi Vadana from Shavakim Panorama Consultation and Research Company, for the Likud Beitenu campaign, which showed that Likud Beitenu would get 37-38 projected seats if elections were held today.

Haaretz Poll: Likud Beitenu Reaches Lowest Point of Election Cycle - 34 Seats

If the election were held Tuesday, the Likud Beitenu would win only 34 projected seats, down one from the previous poll, according to the latest poll conducted for Haaretz by Dialog under the supervision of Prof. Camil Fuchs. Labor's situation is similar, with respondents giving the party one less seat than the last poll, for a total of 16. While the remaining parties support remains steady, the Bayit Yehudi party's support continues to soar, chalking up a projected 14 seats.

Geocartography Poll: A Record High of 86% Turnout Expected on Election Day

70 percent of Israeli voters expressed their certainty of going out to vote on elections day, with an additional 16% who have indicated they are likely to vote, according to a new poll conducted by prof. Ave Degani from Geocartography Instittute. in comparison over the past two election cycles only 63-65% of registered voters actually voted.

According to the poll, after asked about their voting preferences, 21% of respondents have not yet decided for whom to vote for, which adds up to 24 seats in play, just about 3 weeks before election day.11% of those who have already decided whom to vote for have also indicated a most certain possibility of switching their support in the last minute.

Kadima: Livni Stealing Voter Databases; Hatnu'a: We Follow the Law

(via Israel Hayom). The Tzipi Livni-led Hatnu's party is illegally tapping into Kadima's databases to bolster support for its campaign efforts, officials in Kadima charged on Monday. 

Kadima made the claim after several of its members and members of the Labor party reported receiving a recorded phone message by Livni calling for support of Hatnu'a, despite never signing up as supporters of the party. 

 According to Kadima legal advisers, Livni will have broken three laws if she is discovered to have tapped into Kadima's membership database to bolster support for her party: namely, utilizing a registration database for reasons unrelated to its creation, breach of confidentiality, and violation of privacy.

Panels Politics Poll: Israelis Want Bibi, Not Likud

Likud Expelled Activist for Anti-Bennett Ad Saying Bayit Yehudi Taking Religious Jews "Back to the Ghetto."

Likud party's "grassroots" base began running an ad in the ‘Likudnik’ website, an unofficial site run by party activist Arik Ziv, Tuesday that used Holocaust imagery including barbed wire and a yellow Jewish star to convince voters that Naftali Bennett's party was like a ghetto for religious voters.

The caption on the ads is "The Jewish Ghetto, headed by Naftali Bennett," and the logo features a yellow star like the one Nazis forced Jews to wear on their clothes.