Meretz seeks 'blocking majority' to prevent Netanyahu government

[oberliner]

Leaders of the new Meretz party are discussing the possibility of creating a "blocking majority" against a rightist government even before the election.

This would require getting both Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni and Labor chairman Ehud Barak to declare in advance that they would not join a government headed by Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu.

So far, Meretz is the only Zionist party that has categorically refused to join a Likud-led government. Barak has publicly stated that he will only join a government that promises to continue the peace process, but has refused to say specifically that he would not join a Netanyahu government.

http://news.haaretz.co.il/hasen/spages/1049401.html

[DogPoundPup]

1. Poll: More Israelis prefer Netanyahu as PM to any other candidate

>The poll also states that the gap between the Likud and Kadima stands at 8 mandates, with the Likud expected to bring in 30 and Kadima 22. According o the poll, Labor can expect to win 17 mandates, Yisrael Beitenu 16, Shas 10, Meretz 5, United Torah Judaism 5, Hadash 4, National Union 3, The Jewish Home 3, United Arab List 3, and Balad 2 seats.<

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1058678.html

[Ken Burch]

2. There's no possible good that could come of an election result that put Netanyahu in power

It would almost certainly mean that peace could never come.

Please, Israelis, don't do something this crazy. Don't put yourselves at this kind of insane risk.

Give Meretz as many seats as possible.

[IndianaGreen]

4. Maybe what some say is meant to happen, will happen

Perhaps they are all doomed to their own destruction. One would think that eventually they would tire of killing each other, but perhaps this is the one exception in that all that holds them together is the hatred they have for the other.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. As always, not one looks at Shas, the real power brokers

[Ken Burch]

6. They are a mixed bag.

They are somewhat leftist on social welfare issues, but implacably hawkish on security. They are going to be against anything like a real Palestinian state.

The other point that those who want a blocking majority should be making(I assume they are)is that a Likud government would include Yisrael Beiteinu, whose leader, Avigdor Lieberman, is the most racist and divisive figure in Israeli politics.

[oberliner]

7. Do you think Shas would agree to join this "blocking majority"?

That would definitely make things difficult for Likud to form a government.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

8. Shas generally has 10% and is the coalition maker in terms of size

It give them influence will beyond their size. They will make the most of this, as they always do

[Ken Burch]

11. Is Shas responsible for the exemption that the "Ultra-Orthodox" have from military service?

Or does that predate them?

Also, who the heck came up with the idea for that in the first place?

[Alamuti Lotus]

12. Shas & UTJ would both deserve partial credit..

the haredi, under the general guise of being religious students, largely had themselves informally deferred for years (there are also some kind of "Orthodox Only" .. the Tal Committees formalized the process during Barak's first reign, 1999 I believe. It's not set in stone, and it's been seriously challenged by the high courts at least once, but has been tentatively extended a few times by parliament.

[oberliner]

3. Looks good for the blocking majority

Wonder if Labor and Kadima will go along with the plan.

[Alamuti Lotus]

9. Why don't Likud, Kadima, and Labor just get it over with and kiss?

It's amazing how they're all basically campaigning on the "I will bomb Gaza again the best" plank -- the only discernable differences (secondary, from what I can tell) are speculations on the potential relations with Obama and the usual (secondary) lib/con social issues. What would be interesting if/when Bibi wins is who (Barak / Livni) stabs the other in the back first to join the new gov't; though from what I have seen, Likud and its allies may not need either at this point.
Great good for Meretz to be so bold, but the gesture may be futile.

[Ken Burch]

13. I can think of a few reasons

1)Israeli politics is extremely personality driven, and party loyalty has always been fluid there, to say the least. You'd never have a former U.S. president(well at least not since the 1850's) leave his own party and form at least two others, as David Ben-Gurion did in his retirement years. Moshe Dayan formed or helped form a couple of parties. Begin's son split from Likud to form is own.

2) The leading figures in Israeli politics tend to be personally fractious in a way you don't even see in this country(Republican legislators in Alaska come close, which is why Alaska is the only state where you've ever had coalitions take over the legislature because of splits within the Republican rather than the Democratic caucuses), and the kind of selflessness and discipline needed to put together Likud, Kadima and the right-wing of Labor into a center-right "megaparty" are simply not achievable. If they managed it at one election(and remember, Kadima itself was meant to be that kind of "megaparty" when Sharon invented it)it would fall apart into minor parties within months.

3) With the 2% threshold for getting a party into the Knesset, its simply too tempting for individual politicians to "take their ball and go home" by forming a new party.

4) Those from the right wing of Labor who'd be tempted by the idea of such a party would be held back from going through with it by the fact that they'd finally see a new, more radical "left" party emerge to occupy the space Labor had held down, even though in the last twenty years or so Labor has really had no recognizably left-of-center policies and has held the backing of traditionally "left" voters largely out of tradition and force of habit.

[Idealism]

10. My gut is to not trust politicians much around election time

I fear this is another instance why you should distrust them.

[Ken Burch]

16. You're right, of course.

(and the wisdom of your post indicates that the posting name you SHOULD have chosen was "Sanity")

:thumbsup:

[LeftishBrit]

14. I really hope they can do this

For a moment, I thought the headline meant that Meretz were actually seeking a majority! If only!

In any case, I hope Netanyahu and the Right can be blocked.

[Ken Burch]

15. The Israeli government I'd like to see would be a Meretz-Hadash coalition

(It'd never happen, but it would be great if it did).