While most of the votes have been counted, 99.5%, there is still a possibility of change as the votes of the military and prison votes have yet to be tabulated. That said a change is highly unlikely at this point but history has shown it may occur. The current picture appears there will be many new faces in the 19th Knesset.
While Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will be breaking a record as he enters a third term, there can be no question as to the blow to his parliamentary rule for the right-wing has diminished in size. In retrospect, the union with Yisrael Beitenu was an error, at least from a Likud perspective. Most feel that for Lieberman, the agreement was a lifesaver.
Most feel that while Netanyahu is the likely candidate for prime minister, the elections serve as a no-confidence motion regarding the policies of the outgoing administration.
On the Likud/Beitenu list it is indeed possible that the number 32 on the list will enter Knesset, and even possibly number 33.
In The Movement Party, MK Yoel Hasson, who holds the seventh slotm hopes the final count will result in another seat for the party.
Another possible change that may result from the IDF vote is Otzma Yehudi gaining enough votes to climb over the minimum threshold, which would bring MKs Prof. Aryeh Eldad and Dr. Michael Ben-Ari into the 19th Knesset. The two are trying to remain optimistic, aware there is a strong right-wing presence in the military.
The picture as it stands on Wednesday morning 12 Shevat is an evenly divided Knesset.
Right-Wing/Chareidim
Likud/Beitenu 31
Bayit HaYehudi 11 (42)
Shas (11) (53)
Yahadut Hatorah7 (60)
Left-Wing/Arab Parties
Yesh Atid 19
Labor 15 (34)
The Movement 6 (40)
Meretz 6 (46)
Kadima 2 (48)
Arab Parties 12 (60)
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
“left” and “right” refer to which side of the aisle people sat on in the French National Assembly in the 18th century – before Jews were allowed to vote or hold office.
On economic issues: Shas and Yahadut Hatorah should be considered “left” (they favor social spending but not fiscal responsibility, similar to American Democrats), whereas Yesh Atid (Lapid) and The Movement (Livni) should be considered to be right-wing parties.
However the big issue is conscription of yeshiva students, funding of yeshivos, and in general funding of hareidim. On these matter, one side are the three religious parties (though Bayit Yehudi attaches a low priority), and opposed are the secular parties.
akuperma, I agree with you (if using the USA meaning of Right & Left). I have been having this same argument all day yesterday. Just because a party is “frum” doesn’t mean it isn’t socialist. Shas and gimel are socialist in nature. they care only about taking money from taxpayers and giving it to non taxpayers. Yesh Atid is all over the map. Theie platform seems more generalized, with no clear engine to do what they want, its either very small business conservative or big government nationized social engineering ( which i think it is from the other parts of their platform).
The only true fully conservative “right” party is Bayit HaYehudi, with the Feiglin faction of Likud as well.