It is perhaps indescribable, the feeling that Tzipi Livni must be having these days. While all the ballots have not been tabulated, and the final numbers will not be in until after the weekend, for now, Tzipi Livni has still won the popular vote by one seat.
With an estimated six seats riding on the yet uncounted votes, this could change, which is undoubtedly the daily prayer of Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu, who desperately is seeking a tie, or even better, two seats to bring him over the top. Because of the logistics of the additional votes and surplus vote arrangements, parties may actually lose seats as the final votes are tabulated.
While no one can predict what President Shimon Peres will do next week regarding the presidential mandate, all the experts are in agreement, that if Binyamin Netanyahu presents a coalition of 65 or more to President Peres, the president will have no alternative but to hand the mandate to the Likud leader, who will become the nation’s next prime minister.
The experts agree that Livni will not reach the absolute minimum, 61 seats, unable to negotiate a deal with many of the parties. In addition, Shas, Ichud HaLeumi, and Bayit Yehudi have already announced they will recommend to the president that Likud receive the mandate.
As was expected, Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Lieberman is meeting and is not making any announcements before his is compelled to do so, but in his victory address, he did announce that he prefers sitting in a right-wing coalition, but he did not mention Netanyahu’s name.
Until this morning, it was assumed that both Shas and Yahadut HaTorah would join a Likud-led coalition, but R’ Moshe Gafne announced that he is negotiating with Livni, and he is not ruling out entering a Kadima-led coalition at this time. He made a point of stressing he does not feel compelled to follow suit with Shas and he will make his decision after presenting the options to Gedolei Yisrael.
Anyway, if you remember, the nation was compelled to hold a general election because of Livni. Olmert stepped down and she was given the opportunity to form a coalition. She eventually came to the president and stated she is unable to do so, launching the election countdown time. Now, she finds herself in the very same position, perhaps to become the only person in Israel’s history who almost became prime minister, twice.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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6 Responses
These are part of the “yisurim” that it seems she needs to go through.She was one of the main Ministers behind the desingagement plan that Kadima so viciously carried out. Think of how many Yidden who lived in Gush Katif still have no homes or “parnosa”. I am sure that there is no way that people that can cause such awful doings will ever be able to lead Am Yisroel. This is her punishment. So close, but yet so far.
Shimon Peres is much more famous for LOSING elections. Actually she appeared to do quite well considering the state of her party post-Olmert (disasterous foreign policy, collapsing economic party). The Kadimah is even thinking about forming a government is a tremendous tribute to her political abilities (as she did apparently grab a huge number of seats from Likud at the last minute).
How sad that Yahadut HaTorah would even ethically consider joining with Livni whose platform was to denigrate the charedim. If yahadut HaTorah is smart, they will join with Shas. I can’t imagine that the Gedolim would advise a Livni led coalition. What will they be able to gain? She’s openly against everything they want to accomplish. She’ll either expose herself as a total liar by partnering with the or she’ll reject their overtures. At least Netanyahu is not anti charedi!
Yes, Dave, perhaps the “enlightened” members of Kadima should abandon their own comfortable homes & move to Sderot, Ashkelon and Be’er Sheva…
love the headline.
To #1:
The article was refering to WINNING, and still not being able to put together a Goverment.