Tiring of moderates, many Israelis prefer 'iron fist'

[bemildred]

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For many, even hawkish Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu isn't tough enough. In the final days of the campaign, there's been a surge of support for harder-liner Lieberman.

"I'm a Likudnik, but I'm voting more to the right," 34-year-old hairdresser David Arbel said. "Lieberman maybe. I'm voting against the Arabs."

The final polls before Tuesday's vote showed Lieberman's party winning 19 seats, which would make it Israel's third largest, ahead of Barack's Labor Party .

"With Lieberman we'll stand tall," said Eli Pariente , a 48-year-old Ashkelon resident. "He has an iron fist, and we need that in Israel ."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20090206/wl_mcclatchy/3162436_1

[Jefferson23]

1. He's a real charmer that Lieberman.

[PDJane]

2. The definition of insanity......

The hardliners have been in power from the beginning....and they continue to get more extreme.

It hasn't worked so far, and there is no proof that going further, faster in that direction will work any better.

[Tesha]

3. Live by the iron fist; die by the iron fist.

Sooner or later, un-remitting violence will be met with
un-remitting violence.

Tesha

[Behind the Aegis]

5. Doesn't seem Hamas ever got that message.

[Tesha]

10. None of the many fools in the Middle East get this. (NT)

[oberliner]

4. Ironically this is very good for Kadima

Likud is losing voters to Beiteinu and dropping in the polls.

If Kadima can simply maintain their level of support then they should be able to pull out the win.

[LeftishBrit]

6. I hope you are right but the problem is that in Israel a party doesn't have to get a huge proportion

of the vote to get in power, and I fear the possibility of a Likud/Beiteinu coalition - the ultimate horror. Let's hope that this does not happen!

[oberliner]

7. I think we are more likely to see a "unity government"

Led by Kadima, but including Likud and Labor in the coalition.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

8. Many here speak of this conflict in terms of "extremists." But it looks like many in

Israel may vote for whomever reflects their views.


Pretty scary.

[Vegasaurus]

9. Ongoing terrorism does that to people

It isn't surprising, and you should understand that, since you support the "violent resistance" of the occupied.

You understand their terrorism, so it should be easy to understand the Israelis move to the right, given what they have had to endure for decades.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

11. Just as never-ending occupation spawns terrorism. nt

[LeftishBrit]

12. Actually you're both right.

And each side's right-wing just facilitates the other's right-wing.

There needs to be some real new thinking and change from the 'same old' on both sides.

[ProgressiveMuslim]

13. That's exactly why I support international boycotts, sanctions and divestment. nt

[eyl]

14. And that won't strengthen the Israeli right because...? n/t