Both Tzipi Livni of Israel’s Kadima Party and Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud Party have claimed victory in Israel’s Presidential elections held on Tuesday. At this point, the race is too close to call. Read about it and see the video below.
Tzipi Livni - Benjamin Netanyahu
The Israel elections are still too close to call, however, both Tzipi Livni and Benjamin Netanyahu (also known as Bibi) have claimed victory. The right wing of the party has won a clear victory by gaining a 64 seat majority in the Parliament. Holding 64 of the 120 Parliamentary seats gives Netanyahu and the Likud party the advantage.
Livni is the leader of the Kadima Party in Israel, which is a more centrist party. Netanyahu is the leader of the Likud Party which is more hard line right wing.
Livni has called on Netanyahu to join a unity government, an offer he has so far declined. Yisrael Beiteinu Party Chairman, Avigdor Lieberman, has said that his party will only join a coalition government that is dedicated to toppling the Hamas regime in Gaza. Livni has taken a harder line with Hamas and other terrorists groups during the election, but many feel that she fell short of destroying Hamas before she pulled troops out before the inauguration of Barack Obama as the President of the United States.
In Israel, the winner of the election will then form a government. Bibi Netanyahu wins is scheduled to meet with Lieberman on Wednesday to begin discussions of forming a strong right-wing bloc to block any power exerted by the more centrist Kadima Party.
Current Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barack is not likely to remain a member of the cabinet. He is the leader of the Labour Party, which is trailing in fourth place. For all intents and purposes, the Labour Party is out of the game.
Israel is in a precarious position with the likelihood that Iran is close to completing their development of nuclear weapons. Iran has sworn to ‘push Israel into the sea’. There have been limited wars with terrorists organizations from both the north and the south. Hezbollah continues to be a threat out of Lebanon and Hamas continues to be a threat out of Gaza. It is widely believed that both Hezbollah and Hamas are being financed and armed by Iran.
Israel retaliated with both terrorists groups when they sent incursions into Israel and kidnapped and killed Israeli Soldiers and when they have continued to bomb civilian targets inside of Israel. In all incidents, the public has generally felt that Barack fell short of attaining his objectives. In fact, the objectives were not clear. In all incidents, the wars were suddenly stopped and Israeli Soldiers returned to Israel with no real progress having been made. As you might know, Gilad Shalit was kidnapped by Hamas two years ago and is still missing. Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser were kidnapped by Hezbollah about the same time as Shalit, both men have been confirmed dead.
Now with the United States being critically weakened, their only real ally, its no wonder that the Israeli people are looking for tougher leaders to protect them from the hostile countries that surround their small country.
Israel Elections 2009 - Video
February 10th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
The Israeli people are in an impossible position. I can’t imagine how they go through it each and every day.
In my opinion, Livni had her chance and Hamas still lurks.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:28 pm
Judging by these photos, these two could form a very strong coalition. Based on angry sex.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Personally I don’t believe Iran actually means to launch a full scale war on Israel despite all the rhetoric and “interpretations”. But they will use Israel for internal politics to elevate the clerical and revolutionary gaurd ruling class. I think there is an immaturity in Iranian logic, a sociopathy if you will. I suppose you will have to estimate if they are really crazy too? Yes Israel is in a most difficult position and I worry that a right wing government may just further militarize any and all solutions. Short of just clearing out gaza, or for the Palestinians to get rid of the hamas “war cabinet” masquerading as a civilian government I don’t see how peace is going to work? I would like to see Livni get a chance coming from the center as further militarizing the situation also plays into the warring palestinian and Iranian hands. Hillary, your up!
February 10th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
leftrightleft - your disrespect and lack of understanding of the gravity of the situation in the Middle East is duly noted.
February 10th, 2009 at 9:57 pm
Brian - I don’t Iran wants to launch a full scale war with Israel. I think they want to destroy Israel - which they can easily do with one nuke.
Is Ahmadenijad crazy? He is a practitioner of the radical Hojjatieh sect and by his own words, believes in the coming of the 12th Iman that will leave the world in chaos and disorder - making the way clear for the world dominance of his particular vision of Islam.
http://military.rightpundits.com/2006/09/21/ahmadinejads-apocalyptic-vision/
February 10th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
I read the Iranian conundrum as basically a corrupt government in cahoots with a grandiose and equally corrupt cleracy and the rev. gaurd’s make big military industrial profits in their role. They aren’t really as saintly as they claim, there is a good book “Answers only to God” where you can see how the people in power use god and lots of other tricks to secure their place. But they are not so foolish as to invite a retalitory attack on their few big cities and power centers and gasp single refinery. They do push the envelop and could clumsily fall or get someone else to clumsily fall on them. But I think behind all the bravado, buffoonery, and sociopathy they have some basic common sense of their absoltue military vulnerability to any of the great powers or western technology. They do believe that a bomb will give them status and a place at the regional table and they play dirty. In their interpretation of their religious teachings its okay to lie to an enemy and I think they do operate from that fundamentalist mind set, and long after their lost Persian historical power. I can just imagine what they think of the US support of the former Shah, and how Komani’s revolution didn’t deliver on a number of promises and instead was used to just put another group in power. The Israelis are worried of course and are also pressuring us to act and are also amplifying ever one of Ahmaddinajad’s nasty lectures as some type of direct threat. Historically Iran hasn’t attacked anyone since its lost Persian era, but maybe its still in them. Bur realistically, I don’t see them just launching a frontal war against Israel. They may think they can attrit them out through terror proxies, expecially if they are thinking in biblical time. They must know, being so ethnocentric themselves, plus shite that Iran hasn’t any real friends out there and so they cannot expect any help if they launch such a war.
February 11th, 2009 at 6:56 am
Look Brian.
No matter what you or anyone thinks the facts are that Iran supports Hamas killing as many Jews as possible, financially and ideologically.
Its safe at that point to assume that given the chance they will launch nukes against Israel.
As Beth mentioned with the 12th Imam, they are a genocidal suicidal regime very identical to Syria and the Palestinians where total martyrdom for the entire country would be acceptable in the name of killing infidel westerners and pig Jews.
They will all lay themselves down at deaths door given they believe its for the right purpose.
Besides any of the evident reasons theres a host of other reason that by no means should Iran be allowed to have nuclear weapons, at all.
February 11th, 2009 at 8:46 am
It’s simply unlogical for Iran to nuke Israel. The retaliation would be pretty consequential with Israel nuking Iran and wiping it out in return. All parties involved know that. There’s nothing to gain for anyone.
Iran wants to own nukes not to destroy Israel but to gain leverage. So far that worked for all nuclear powers.
Btw Beth, if you say Livni had her chance, what about Netanyahu? He’s been a pretty unsuccessful prime minister before.
February 11th, 2009 at 8:48 am
Iran is going to attack Israel, and bring with it a coalition of other forces, beginning with Rusia. The only question is when.
February 11th, 2009 at 8:51 am
By calling Iran genocidal/suicidal you definitely underestimate their level of social development. Certainly the vast majority of Iranians is anything but fundamentalist. My mother had the chance to travel Iran in 2007 and came back with stories that by no means match the perception the media are giving of Iran.
Ahmedinejad isn’t even a muslim fundamentalist like Ayatollah Khomenei was.
Generally, the vast majority of any people want to live and not perish in a religiously motivated suicide attack.
February 11th, 2009 at 9:29 am
“It’s simply unlogical for Iran to nuke Israel.”
Jay, the point is that Iran and its leaders do not operate on logic but rather ideology.
“Ahmedinejad isn’t even a muslim fundamentalist like Ayatollah Khomenei was.”
It doesnt matter.
He makes no policy, he is a puppet mouthpiece that only reflects what the the Ayatollas and clerics want him to reflect.
What you mother saw was a people who do not feel the way the leadership they have no control over feels.
“So far that worked for all nuclear powers.”
These countries never threatened genocide against anyone.
February 11th, 2009 at 9:39 am
jay - Maggie said that about Livni, not me, although I agree with her. Livni should have finished the job with Hamas. I don’t understand why Israel waged war with Hamas and Hezbollah and didn’t finish either time.
You are wrong about Ahmedinejad - he may not be the same type of muslim fundamentalist as Khomenei - but he IS part of the Hojjatieh sect that is its own type of fundamentalist. The core belief system in that sect is an apocalyptic vision of the near future. If you study their beliefs, then it makes sense that Ahmedinejad would see bombing the U.S. and/or Israel would be his destiny.
No one has said that Iran is not culturally developed. But they have been a theocracy since Carter was in office and the Shah was assassinated. Therefore, the average citizen doesn’t have a whole lot of say in what the government does or doesn’t do.
February 11th, 2009 at 10:36 am
Why is it so hard for people to understand that Muslims hates all Jews and does not consider it murder to kill them?
You people that want to make excuses for the hate by the Muslims are the same people that didn’t understand why we attacked Iraq.
For Obama or any Official Rep of the U S Government to meet with Ahmedinejad is wrong. Because he is a puppet and hold no real power.
If we want to change the governments in these countries, we have give the people there the means and methods to do so. The best way to destroy the current government in Iran is from the inside out.
I don’t think Iran will attack Israel because they know that we will join that fight and who will win. They are bullies and in the old days we use to punch the bullies in the nose and suddenly they became a friend. But now days, the left wants to talk to them and understand them and caress them and cry with them and explain to us why they are bullies but don’t call them that because it is not nice to call names.
Muslims are spline less cowards who get others to die for the cause. Any religion build on hate and murder is not a religion we should embrace in any way.
We need Netanyahu as Prime Minister. Livni is a female Obama and will give in to easily.
February 11th, 2009 at 1:12 pm
George.
If Iran is totally demolished by any response in their attack on Israel it will be considered the highest of honors.
These people do not operate on the premise that preservation of life in or during the pursuit of anything is honorable but rather to offer up your life is testamonial sacrifice to Allah with the promise of virgins etc…
This is why we see humane efforts on behalf of Israel and Christian based militaries that involve rescuing refugees, tending to the wounded enemy and total disregard for human life coming from militaries based on a radical and theologically based Muslim militia.
They don’t see the logic behind preserving the life of their warriors so as to fight another day and maintain the strength of the mass.
“If we want to change the governments in these countries, we have give the people there the means and methods to do so”
In Iraq this worked only because we tried it with Saddam in charge, which of course made it evident that it was him and not the people that were the problem.
Its beginning to be an example to the rest of the middle east just how what you mention will work.
The problem is that if Iraqis ever elect into power a government based on theological ideology we see the same thing happen again. Even though Saddam was by no means a devout Muslim his rule was still based on the same form of dictatorship with him being the god.
The rest of these countries and Palestinians (who are actually just Arabs from surrounding states) that tell us if only they had this and that are only extorting relief and freebees with the threat that if we don’t keep it coming they will attack again.
Its not Americas responsibility to help them set up the Palestinian state they wish to return to that was dismantled decades ago.
It should be the responsibility of the surrounding states that once made up what was Palestine.
Will we see the do that ?
Of course not. Its only in the best interest of the whole Arab community including Syria, Egypt and Jordan, that once made up Palestine to let this war fester on in the interest of having fodder to use against Israel.
No one has any “sincere” interest in propelling the Palestinians to these causes that are basically all just a smoke screen so they can continue to exercise their only purpose which is to kill and eliminate Jews.
On top of using the constant warring between the two as fodder against Israel these surrounding states are just as aware of what the Palestinians true commitment and real reasons for existence are.
So why help to build a nation that will consistently be torn down and in need of aid ?
That is the other reason no one will commit in full to establishing a profitable viable Palestinian state.
Then there’s the common logical question that I never see being asked.
Does anyone really want a profitable and viable nation of Palestine capable of buying bigger and better weapons, growing a legit military, existing right next to Israel ???
Gaza needs to be swept clean and let Jordan and the surrounding states that used to make up Palestine deal with the refugee problem.
Oh, and clean Iran and Syrias clock while they’re at it.
February 12th, 2009 at 2:51 am
“Muslims are spline less cowards who get others to die for the cause.”
R*cist talk of the highest order. Shame on you, George. Simply despicable.
“Palestinians (who are actually just Arabs from surrounding states)”
Micky, I thought you were an expert on the region? I agree with some of what you said here but this statement is wrong for a large portion of the palestinian population in the area.
February 12th, 2009 at 5:54 am
“Does anyone really want a profitable and viable nation of Palestine capable of buying bigger and better weapons, growing a legit military, existing right next to Israel ???”
no micky, we would love to see them in their current state for all eternity. and while we’re at it, let’s wipe out iran and syria. as long as israel is kept safe it’s game.
“Muslims are spline less cowards…”
you know who said something similar about jews just about 70 years ago?
the b!gotry around here is unprecedented.
February 13th, 2009 at 9:04 am
Jay.
What you think and what you know are two different things.
My family having 5 holocaust survivors does not make me an exapert on anything, but it has created need for greater insight than that of the average person.
You know nothing but ideological heart bleeding for a people who have sworn to eleiminate another people just becuse they exists.
Jay;
“you know who said something similar about jews just about 70 years ago? ”
Yes you ignoramous, they did ! And it was the N*zis of Germany who said that which is the same doctrine radical Islam has adhered to today, Mein Kampf being the one of the best selling publications in the region.
Are you also aware that the Muslim brotherhood had its roots whithin N8zi germany ?
It doesnt sound like you’re aware of this any more than you are of ther fact that the Palestnians we see today are an invented people made up of and from Arab states surrounding Israel that once were part of what was once known as Palestine.
You cry bigotry ? Well let me inform you that bigotry is spawned first of ignorance of the facts, which you have none.
Get with the program before you continue to speak out of your ideological bleeding heart on this subject any further.
http://www.danielpipes.org/comments/119671
“As Walid Shoebat and others have stated so eloquently, there never was “a Palestinian people” until the myth of “a Palestinian people” became politically expedient for primarily Arab Islamists dealing with the west and opposing the Jews. The true history of “the Palestinian people” is that one day a bunch of people were told they were “Palestinian”, prior to which most of them had thought of themselves as Jordanian. The notion of “a Palestinian people” is derived from revisionist history, and from the enthusiasm of American bleeding heart liberals who found a cause to advocate for that they never checked for historical validity.
Although there is historically a geographic reference to an area called Palestine, there was a parade of different tribal and ethnic groups through this area, including Jews. This is historical fact. Since the time that the fiction of “a Palestinian people” was invented, their numbers have swelled beyond the rate at which it is possible for humans to reproduce, further demonstrating that today’s “Palestinians” are a politically expedient fiction.
If the so-called “Palestinians” had any rights to live somewhere in the Middle East, the Muslim Arab states bordering Israel would have welcomed them during the times of their alleged hardship and displacement. Instead, Muslim Arab states keep them in the modern equivalent of concentration camps, extort the UN for funding to support them that mostly comes from the USA and almost never comes from oil-rich Muslim countries, and generally deny that they have rights to any sort of entitlement. They are kept in a state of poverty because having them poor yields political advantages: poverty elicits sympathetic responses from Americans, and poverty makes them easy to control and indoctrinate in the ideology of jihad and martyrdom. At any rate, since there is no such thing as “a Palestinian people”, they have no such thing as “a right of return”.”
February 13th, 2009 at 9:10 am
Sorry bout all those typos but this an issue dear to me that has many fronts of real importance that most dont realize.
First, Israel is our ally, a country that holds the same values we do.
Second, we must never allow to happen again what happened before.
What Israel is experiencing has direct ties to the exact same mentallity that caused 911.
The constant sympathy and appeasement for a murderous suicidal genocidal people coming from the left makes me physically ill.
Seriously, it does, no drama, my stomach is in knots right now.
February 20th, 2009 at 6:38 am
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