Exit polls show center-left bloc winning 62-66 seats

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"Exit polls released as polling stations closed at 10 P.M. Tuesday showed center-left parties gaining a total of between 62 and 66 seats, with Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima winning 29 to 32 seats, Labor 20-22 seats, Meretz five and the Arab parties seven to eight seats.

The Likud, which had hoped to block a center-left coalition, won 11 to 12 seats in the poll, far below the figures the party had hoped and a far cry from the 38 seats it won under Ariel Sharon in 2003.

The total voter turnout was 63 percent, by far the lowest percentage in Israel's history. The previous low was notched in 2003, when 68 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots.

The results, if accurate, could mean that the Likud would become Israel's fourth largest party, with the Russian immigrant-dominated Yisrael Beiteinu becoming the third largest list in the 120-seat house with 12 to 14 seats."

more

[fooj]

1. They didn't get the memo.

Exit polls aren't accurate, eh?

Peace.

[Coastie for Truth]

6. They don't have Diebold

and they use paper ballots that leave a paper trail. ;)

[Nite Owl]

2. They still use exit polls?

How quaint. They don't know yet how inaccurate they can be I guess. (Or they don't have Deibold yet!)

[Selatius]

3. 63% voter turnout is considered "low" in Israel??????

My God, how bad is the US compared to other representative republics in the world?

[Coastie for Truth]

4. Coalition is possible

WITHOUT any RW participation

WITHOUT any Religious Party participation

WITH a real, North African, ethnic, trade union, Sephardi leading the second biggest bloc.

Puts Israel to the LEFT of the US.

This is an opportunity for progress.

[Scurrilous]

7. Good news...

...:thumbsup:

[DemFromMem]

5. Likud in 4th???!!!

Wow. Talk about a fall from grace. And this will be the first time in modern history that the religious parties can't force their way into a coalition. This will be a huge opportunity to press for more equality and secularism in the country and will also be a big blow to the Settlers movement which will have little representation in the government.

[madrchsod]

8. who is the center left going to take them?

who can they be comfortable with? the voter turnout is disappointing. i read where they thought the turn out would be alot better than that...

[IndianaGreen]

9. I am watching Olmert's speech live on BBC America

Great speech!

Some quotes:

A new chapter in Israel's history

The time to act (for peace) is now

Time to create peace

We are one Israel

Time to put aside our differences

(prayer for Sharon and for the country)

Shimon Peres is now speaking!