The Zionist Federation of Australia has congratulated Bibi Netanyahu on behalf of the Australian Jewish community.
ZFA Philip Chester said: “On behalf of the Australian Jewish Community, the Zionist Federation of Australia congratulates Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on his election victory.
With a high 67.7% of eligible Israelis exercising their right to vote, the election produced two new significant political parties, Yair Lapid’s There is a Future Party and Naftali Bennett’s Jewish Home Party, both of whom are likely to play a key role in negotiations for a coalition government. This represents an interesting time in the Israeli democratic process.
Prime Minister Netanyahu’s next goal will be to form a coalition that will enable him to face the many challenges that lie ahead, including tackling the Iranian nuclear threat, while maintaining focus on domestic and economic issues. We have every faith in the Israeli democratic system, which has once again highlighted a vibrant, thriving country with a broad spectrum of political perspectives”.
Dr DannyLamm, president of The Executive Council of Australian Jewry added: “It is likely that Israel will once more have a centre-Right government led by Prime Minister Netanyahu. Many western media commentators had predicted that the Israeli electorate would lurch to the far Right. They warned that this was a sign that Israelis are not interested in peace with the Palestinians and that both Israeli democracy and US support for Israel would be put in jeopardy. These commentators were wrong on all counts. There has instead been a strong shift to the political centre, motivated mainly by domestic issues. The stand-out winner is Yair Lapid’s centrist Yesh Atid party which went from zero to 19 seats. Most Israelis desire a negotiated peace with the Palestinians but do not believe that this desire is reciprocated. Not even Yesh Atid supports a freeze on settlement construction. The voters have once again confounded Israel’s critics.”
Gabrielle,
I echo Michael’s sentiments .
I tell people repeatedly , if you don’t live in Israel, you have no right to criticise Her. Her government will do what they are elected to do and that’s govern. So far Netanyahu is doing a very good job in difficult circumstances
No doubt when Tony Abbott is elected as PM, you won’t congratulate him either.
Am I right?
Gabrille [ if Jewish] and her comrades is the reason why Israel is being slaughtered in the International arena of Public opinion .
One thing [ the only thing ] the Arab/ Muslim world can teach the Jews is how to rally around the Palestinians , no matter that they differ with each other on so many other issues , no matter how belligerent , intransigent or extremist the Palestinian leadership is no many how many atrocities the Palestinians commit against Jews , Christians and their own kind the Arabs and Muslims all back them with out exception.
Jewish diaspora should support whoever the Israeli citizens elect after all it is the Israelis who are on the front line not Jews living in Caulfield, Vaucluse or Peppermint Grove.
BTW wasn’t it a Far right Israeli Leader that was behind the exit from Gaza ?
Wrong, I and many of my friends are not supporting that congratulation. Netanyahu is bad for Israel! And time will prove it.