Poll: Kadima and Likud neck and neck

[Mosby]

A new poll published Friday puts Kadima and Likud neck and neck.

The poll, conducted by the TNS Teleseker firm for Ma'ariv and coming hot on the heels of the Kadima primary, predicted that the parties of Tzipi Livni and Binyamin Netanyahu would each win 30 seats.

It also showed that Labor and Yisrael Beiteinu would each get 12 mandates, Shas would win nine and Meretz - running with the new Hatnua Hahadasha - would win seven.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1228728258451&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[LeftishBrit]

1. So they might end up in pretty much the position they started from...

with no one having the means to form a government without a lot of horse-trading?

In any case, I hope it's NOT Netanyahu!

[IndianaGreen]

5. If Livni cannot form government, Bibi will

The question is, how will the next government in Israel react to Obama Administration when it restarts the peace process?

[Kurska]

7. Depends on how obama trys to

Bidi's and livni's positions on most issues are pretty clear. Honestly, I'd imagine bibi will be forming the government, the small parties aren't happy with kadima and ultimately the small parties determine whose the prime minister.

[sabbat hunter]

2. Israel need

to find a way to raise the minimum amount of votes needed to get a seat in Knesset, give the tiny parties far less power.

[LeftishBrit]

3. I agree on that!

[Kurska]

6. Theres a catch 22 on that

The small parties don't like that, so if anyone tries to do that they'd topple the government

[sabbat hunter]

8. The big three

need to form a unity government, where they don't need the smaller parties (kadima, Likud and Labor/meretz) between those three they should have enough votes to form a government. Let it be a short term agreement, where they put in place new election rule. Then call for new elections a few months later.

[Kurska]

9. The big three couldn't agree on the color of the sky

Much less new election laws.

[Kurska]

4. So essentialy the small parties will once again broker a power deal?

The Israeli political system needs some serious reform.