| Poll shows center-left "super party" could win Israeli elections |
| Last Updated(Beijing Time):2012-10-12 05:16 |
|
If the main leaders of Israel's center and left political forces would join forces in one party, they could defeat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the early general elections to be held in January, a survey revealed Thursday.
The party would be headed by former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and would include former Kadima party leader Tzipi Livni, Kadima's current chairman Shaul Mofaz, as well as TV pundit-turned- politician Yair Lapid. Such a super political party would be unstoppable, with 31 seats in the Knesset(parliament), a Smith research poll conducted for The Jerusalem Post found.
Netanyahu's party, Likud, would get 27 seats, the survey showed, while Yisrael Beitenu would get 14, Labor 12 and the ultra- Orthodox party Shas 11.
Other polls carried out by different newspapers in Israel found that if the elections were held today, Netanyahu would be unbeatable. A Tel Aviv University poll on behalf of the Haaretz daily showed the right-wing Likud's Netanyahu pulling in 57 percent to 62 percent of those polled, who view him the most appropriate candidate.
Tzipi Livni, who recently said she was quitting politics, received 28 percent of the respondents' votes.
Olmert, who is still undecided about returning to political life, received 24 percent of the votes, while Labor party leader Shelly Yachimovich received 17 percent, current Kadima chief Mofaz got 16 percent, and Defense Minister Ehud Barak got 15 percent for his Independence faction.
Another poll published Thursday by the Ma'ariv daily found that if the elections were held today, Likud would garner 29 mandates.
Following a call to bring forward the parliamentary elections, Netanyahu on Thursday announced the upcoming elections would take place on Jan. 22, 2013.
Netanyahu submitted a draft bill to dissolve the 18th Knesset, which was set to begin its winter session on Oct. 15. The Justice Ministry has okayed the bill, and it only awaits final authorization by the government at the Sunday cabinet session.
Iran, economy to dominate Israeli elections
In the Israeli elections scheduled on Jan. 22, 2013, the right-left fault line may not be drawn as in the past along issues such as relations with the Palestinians, but over Iran's controversial nuclear program and Israel's economy, analysts said.
Israeli social protest leaders ponder going into politics for next elections
The young Israelis that spearheaded last year's social protests throughout the country are pondering going into politics, after the government announced to move the elections ahead, local newspaper reported Thursday.
Israeli national elections likely on Jan. 22, 2013
Following a call to bring forward Knesset(parliament) elections, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday announced the upcoming elections would take place on Jan. 22, 2013.
Israeli polls: Netanyahu first among few in premiership race
Latest media polls say Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu currently has no serious contender in the upcoming premiership elections, likely to be set for January 2013.
Israeli FM vows to play"central role" in next government
Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Wednesday that he was confident that his party would be a central pillar in the next government, which is to be assembled after just-announced elections.
Former Israeli PM weighing political redux via new party
Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is mulling starting up a new center-left political party, along with Kadima cohorts Haim Ramon and Tzipi Livni, and weighing running for prime minister in new elections, set to take place within three months.
Israeli PM announces early elections due to budget row
After a nearly four-year tenure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday announced that new general elections would be held"as soon as possible," but did not specify an exact date. |
|
|
|
|
