News

Lieberman’s downfall

May 01 2014
Israel
Source: 
Your Middle East

Without a distinct ideology and losing the support of Israel’s ultra-right, the days of Lieberman dominating political headlines and telecasts of Eretz Nehedert may soon be over, argues Aaron Magid.

On the night of the 2009 election, as Avigdor Lieberman’s party jumped to unprecedented power with 15 seats, the popular Israeli satirical show Eretz Nehederet depicted Lieberman ominously.

Both Benjamin Netanyahu and Tzipi Livni huddled around Lieberman begging for his support while Lieberman surrounded by black clad bodyguards shot at Netanyahu’s foot to grab his attention.

Netanyahu anuncia que promoverá ley para afianzar el estatus judío de Israel

May 01 2014
Israel
Source: 
La Vanguardia

El primer ministro israelí, Benjamín Netanyahu, anunció hoy sus planes de promover una legislación para afianzar el carácter judío del Estado de Israel como estado nacional del pueblo judío.

"Es mi intención presentar una legislación básica a la Knesset (Parlamento israelí) que provea de base constitucional al estatus de Israel como estado nacional del pueblo judío", manifestó Netanyahu en una ceremonia celebrada en el Salón de Independencia de Tel Aviv, lugar donde se leyó la declaración del 14 de mayo de 1948.

Netanyahu said to seek public presidential elections

Feb 19 2014
Israel
Source: 
Times of Israel

The next president of Israel may be chosen by the general public instead of members of Knesset, a radio report said Wednesday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is weighing the possibility of amending the law to allow the move, Army Radio reported. The identity of President Shimon Peres’s successor — Israel’s tenth president — is currently set to be determined by the Knesset in late April.

Yisrael Beytenu electoral reform bill sparks uproar

May 01 2013
Israel
Source: 
The Jerusalem Post

Opposition parties panned a Yisrael Beytenu proposal for electoral reform Wednesday night.

The legislation proposed by Knesset Law, Constitution and Justice Committee chairman David Rotem (Yisrael Beytenu) increases the election threshold to four percent, limits the number of ministers including the prime minister to 19 and deputy ministers to four.

Netanyahu claims victory in Israel polls

Jan 23 2013
Israel
Source: 
al- Yazeera

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has claimed victory in Israel's election, despite unexpected losses to resurgent centre-left challengers.

Netanyahu gave a speech to his supporters at the Likud headquarters where he thanked Israelis for the opportunity to govern for a third term.

"I am proud to be your prime minister....and I want to carry forward changes, and in order to do that we need to construct a wide government, which I've started to do already," he said.

In Israel, Netanyahu's party wins but centrists flex muscle, polls show

Jan 23 2013
Israel
Source: 
CNN

Jerusalem (CNN) -- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party got the most votes in Israel's national election Tuesday, but a respectable showing by centrists could slow or halt a rightward swing in the government.

Netanyahu's Likud Beitenu won between 31 and 33 Knesset seats in the Israel election, TV exit polls reported, winning the most, as expected. Jewish Home, an extreme right party with a charismatic leader named Naftali Bennett, got between 11 and 12 seats.

Israeli election campaign enters final hours

Jan 21 2013
Israel
Source: 
al- Yazeera

With less than 24 hours until Israelis vote in general elections, party leaders were campaigning down to the wire ahead of a ballot that is expected to return Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to office.

The vote on Tuesday is widely expected to usher in a government which will swing further to the right, whittling away at the chances of a peace deal with the Palestinians and raising the prospect of greater diplomatic isolation for Israel.

Analysis: Israeli vote least of neighbors' worries

Jan 21 2013
Israel
Source: 
Jerusalem Post

Israel's elections have aroused minimal interest from Middle Eastern states who once scrutinized such votes for clues about the fate of the so-called peace process.

Whether they endorsed US-backed negotiations with the Palestinians or were out to sabotage them, regional powers would see Israeli polls at least as significant straws in the wind.

Israel Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman resigns

Dec 14 2012
Israel
Source: 
BBC

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has resigned after prosecutors decided to charge him with breach of trust.

Mr Lieberman has also resigned as deputy prime minister, and said he would fight to clear his name of the charges.

The case against him relates to a financial scandal dating back more than a decade.

His resignation comes five weeks before Israel's general election.

Israel to keep Palestinian funds for months

Dec 12 2012
Israel
Source: 
al-Yazeera

Israel will withhold tax revenues from the Palestinian administration until at least March, in response to the Palestinians' bid for statehood at the UN, Israel's foreign minister says.

Under current peace deals, Israel collects about $100 million every month in duties on behalf of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the occupied West Bank. That money is primarily used to pay public sector salaries.

"The Palestinians can forget about getting even one cent in the coming four months, and in four months' time we will decide how to proceed"

Israel's parliament dissolves and sets early Jan. 22 poll

Oct 16 2012
Israel
Source: 
Reuters

JERUSALEM, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Israel's Parliament on Tuesday set a January 22 date for a national election and opinion polls predict an easy win for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in balloting expected to focus on his tough policies on Iran's nuclear programme and economics.

Lawmakers approved the measure by a vote of 100 to nil after a more than eight-hour debate, dissolving parliament, or ending its term of office, effective immediately and months ahead of schedule.

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