News

Zionist rabbis switch from Habayit Hayehudi to Yahad

Feb 27 2015
Israel
Source: 
Haaretz

A group of senior rabbis from the religious Zionist movement announced Thursday it had withdrawn its endorsement of Habayit Hayehudi in the March 17 election in favor of Yahad, the party established recently by former Shas chairman Eli Yishai.

The announcement was in the form of an open letter published as an advertisement in the religious Zionist weekly BeSheva.

“At this time, we are called upon to make our calculations according to the Torah’s truth,” the letter said.

Survey: Zionist Union leads Likud by 2 mandates

Feb 24 2015
Israel
Source: 
Ynet

A new survey conducted by Dr. Mina Tzemach and published by Channel 2 Tuesday shows the Zionist Union, headed by Isaac Herzog, beating out Prime Minister's Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party by two mandates.

The Likud lost two mandates since the previous survey and the Zionist Union one.

On the other hand, Naftali Bennett's Bayit Yehudi party received one more mandate in the latest survey and so did Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid. The ultra-Orthodox Shas party also received one more mandate in the poll.

 

New Comptroller Report to Slam Netanyahu on Housing Problems

Feb 19 2015
Israel
Source: 
Arutz Sheva

While the Comptroller's report on household spending released this week is seen by most Israelis as “politics as usual” - and thus not affecting. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the Likud at the polls – a new report being prepared by Comptroller Yosef Shapira could be a much bigger problem for the Prime Minister.

In that report, which is to be released sometime before the March 17 elections, the Comptroller will describe what he believes are the reasons homes in Israel are so expensive.

 

Election committee bars Lieberman's party from distributing Charlie Hebdo

Feb 04 2015
Israel
Source: 
Haaretz

Israel's Central Elections Committee (CEC) forbade Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party from distributing free copies of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, Channel 2 television reported Wednesday.

CEC head and Supreme Court Judge Salim Joubran issued a decree late Wednesday against the distribution, accepting a request of a list of Arab parties, who argued that the copies of the last edition, which carry a caricature of the Prophet Mohammed, are offensive to Muslims.

Arab parties reach historic deal, unite for upcoming election

Jan 25 2015
Israel
Source: 
Jerusalem Post

Arab parties closed a historic unity deal to form a united bloc for the general election.

Despite the united list, the parties maintain unresolved ideological differences, but the move is meant to gain the maximum number of Knesset seats.

United Arab List, Ta’al, Hadash and Balad struck the deal Thursday night. The discussions revolved around running together on one list or on two.

The decision to raise the electoral threshold to 3.25 percent of the vote to win seats in the Knesset has forced the parties to band together.

Israel's Presidential Elections: The Candidates

Jun 09 2014
Israel
Source: 
Israel National News

With less than 24 hours to go before Israel's new president is declared, Arutz Sheva provides a brief biography of each of the candidates still in the running for the largely symbolic - yet highly prestigious - post.

The vote will take place in the Knesset, not as part of a general election, with the candidate receiving an absolute majority of MKs' votes taking the spot. If no candidate receives an absolute majority the Knesset votes again in a run-off between the top two candidates.

MK Reuven "Ruby" Rivlin

Netanyahu tries again to derail Rivlin presidency bid

May 23 2014
Israel
Source: 
Al Monitor

In one of their many points of friction, presidential hopeful and Knesset member Reuven Rivlin heard that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara accused him of involvement in the choice of journalist Rino Tzror as one of the torch lighters at Israel’s Independence Day ceremony. The ceremony panel that picked the veteran, respected journalist explained that through his work Tzror “serves as a mouthpiece for those citizens who feel they are on the margins of society in Israel and raises pointed human dilemmas and painful social problems.”

Israeli parliament to choose new president on June 10

May 19 2014
Israel
Source: 
Al Arabiya News

Israeli lawmakers will elect a successor to outgoing President Shimon Peres on June 10, parliamentary speaker Yuli Edelstein told reporters on Monday.

Edelstein's announcement marks the official start of the race for the position, which has been held by Peres since 2007.

Candidates must receive the backing of at least 10 other MPs, and formally present their requests in writing to the speaker on May 27, Edelstein said.

In Israel, the post of president is largely ceremonial and executive power rests with the prime minister.

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