David Singer: An amalgam of eight leaders trading insults and denigrating each other - whilst their parties have adopted policies that are totally irreconcilable on critical issues – is not the foundation for any stable Government – especially in Israel – whose enemies will become increasingly emboldened following the announcement of a cobbled-together Israeli Government comprising very different bedfellows.
David Singer: Rockets from Gaza indiscriminately targeting Israel’s civilian population and Arab riots targeting Israel’s Jewish population in the streets of Jerusalem seem to have not moved Israel’s politicians to stop engaging in arm-wrestles in pursuit of their own personal political power.
Fiamma Nirenstein: Rather than highlighting ideological battles or political strategies, the current Israeli election reflects the Zeitgeist of an era.
Israel Kasnett: After 12 years in the top job, the Israeli prime minister believes that his legacy will be based on two main factors—as the protector of Israel and the liberator of its economy.
Former minister and senior Likud figure and son of the late Prime Minister Menachem Begin, Benny Begin has announced he would be joining Gideon Saar, and the New Hope Party as a candidate for the Knesset in the upcoming elections.
Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of undermining the power-sharing agreement that both Likud, and Blue and White, had formed earlier this year.
David Singer: Benny Gantz’s decision to do a deal with the Joint List to influence President Rivlin into giving Gantz first bite at forming Israel’s next Government is reprehensible, unconscionable and against Israel’s national interest.
Dov Lipman: Blue and White leader Benny Gantz is to be tasked with assembling a coalition after securing recommendations from 61 Knesset members, though he faces seemingly insurmountable challenges due to a reliance on the Joint Arab List.
Alex Traiman: Looking at the numbers emerging from Israel’s March 2 election, one has to wonder: How many votes does Netanyahu need to win by for the entire electorate to declare his victory?
Alex Traiman: He has been demonstrating to his direct Likud supporters, as well as to members of his right-wing and religious party bloc, that after 11 years running he still wants the job more than ever.
David Singer: Crunch time has come for approximately 6.5 million Jews and Arabs to vote on Israel regaining immediate sovereignty in parts of the Jewish People’s biblical and ancient heartland in Judea and Samaria - 3000 years after its loss.
David Singer: The formation of a joint America-Israel committee to map out the areas of Judea and Samaria within which Israel’s sovereignty will be recognized by America - has presented Israeli voters with a real choice between the policies of Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and his rival Benny Gantz at the upcoming elections on 2 March.
David Singer: Blue and White Party leader – Benny Gantz – could well see his dream of becoming Israel’s next Prime Minister on 2 March implode after meeting with President Trump at the White House this coming week.
David Singer: Israel’s next election due on 2 March 2020 must focus on the future of Judea and Samaria – not the future of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Bibi).
David Singer: History will not kindly recall Israel’s power-hungry politicians who have forced a third election within twelve months on Israeli voters at a direct cost of another US$135 million.
As Israel prepares for its third elections within a year, President Reuven Rivlin on Thursday appealed to the public not to lose faith in Israel’s democratic system, despite its apparent flaws.
