Category: Other


Likud 2015 List:

Number-Name (previous ranking in 2013 &2009)

1 – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (#1 in 2013 & 2009)

2 – Minister Gilad Erdan (#3 in 2013 & 2009)

3 – Speaker Yuli Edelstein (#12 in 2013 & 2009)

4 – Minister Yisrael Katz (#5 in 2013, #11 in 2009)

5 – MK Miri Regev (#14 in 2013, #27 in 2009)

6 – Minister Silvan Shalom (#4 in 2013, #7 in 2009)

7 – Minister Moshe Yaalon (#8 in 2013 & 2009)

8 – Former Deputy Minister Zeev Elkin (#9 in 2013, #20 in 2009)

9 – Former Deputy Minister Danny Danon (#6 in 2013, #24 in 2009)

10 – MK Yariv Levin (#11 in 2013, #21 in 2009)

11 – Netanyahu Reserved Spot

12 – Deputy Minister Tzachi Hanegbi (#17 in 2013, Kadima MK in 2009)

13 – Minister Yuval Steinitz (#16 in 2013, #9 in 2009)

14 – Former Deputy Minister Gila Gamliel (#20 in 2013, #19 in 2009)

15 – Deputy Minister Ofir Akunis (#19 in 2013, #26 in 2009)

16 – New District Position

17 – MK Haim Katz (#13 in 2013, #14 in 2009)

18 – New District Position

19 – New District Position

20 – Former Minister Avi Dichter (#59 in 2013, Kadima MK in 2009)

Other notables

24 – Former Deputy Minister Ayoub Kara (#39 in 2013, #23 in 2009) – Spot reserved for non-Jew.

26 – Deputy Minister Tzipi Hotovely (#10 in 2013, #18 in 2009)

36 – MK Moshe Feiglin (#15 in 2013, #36 in 2009)

37 – Former Deputy Minister Michael Ratzon (sat out 2013, #37 in 2009)

_______________________________________________________________________________

Voting

Name – 2014 Votes (2012 votes)

Erdan – 38,517 (44,875)

Edelstein – 35,893 (29,138)

Y Katz – 35,510 (41,662)

Regev – 33,385 (27,999)

Shalom – 29,808 (41,957)

Ya’alon – 27,973 (34,458)

Elkin – 25,879 (31,060)

Danon – 24,797 (36,881)

Levin – 24,258 (29,381)

Hanegbi – 24,146 (23,561)

Steinitz – 23,525 (26,109)

Gamliel –23,093 (21,843)

Akunis – 22,856 (22,898)

C Katz – 22,575 (29,035)

Dichter – 20,892 (21,455)

Hotovely – 20,837 (28,133)

Feiglin – 14,581 (26,472)

Kara – 13,963 (12,858)

Ratzon – 10,731

Note: 38 candidates ran for Likud ‘national list’. I am only providing results for the top 19 candidates.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Analysis

The Likud moved to the center in the 2015 primaries. Former Kadima MK Avi Dichter bumps right-wing MKs Moshe Feiglin & Tzipi Hotoveli off the list and MKs Danny Danon was bumped down the list. The Likud’s Top 20 will only have 2 female candidates and no one under the age of 40. Likud lost members over the last two years and turnout was lower this time as well. The only candidates in realistic spots who improved in terms of actual votes were Speaker Edelstein, MK Hanegbi and female MKs Regev and Gamliel.

The winner of the primary is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who is very happy with the results. The new Electoral Reform Bill will go into effect and limit the next government to 18 ministers and 4 deputy ministers.  Just like last time, expect Netanyahu to ignore the actual order of the list and to appoint whoever he wants for Likud’s top positions in the next government. This time there will be less to go around.

* Updated to reflect changes in voting after recount of Jan 4 2015.

KnessetJeremy Poll & Election Analysis

1) Knesset Jeremy Poll of Polls:
https://knessetjeremy.com/2014/12/07/knesset-jeremy-poll-of-polls-weekly-average-1-likud-23-6-bayit-yehudi-16-6-labor-13-4-yisrael-beitenu-11-kachlon-9-9/

2) Poll of Polls Quotes on Voice of America
http://www.voanews.com/content/collapse-of-israeli-government-bodes-ill-for-peace-process/2547816.html

3) Poll of Polls Quotes on Israel National News:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/188334#.VIRqeDGUfLm

4) Poll of Polls Quotes on Jewish Press:
http://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/analysis/knesset-jeremy-poll-of-polls-weekly-average-1/2014/12/07/

5) Poll & Election Analysis on Voice of Israel (starting from 14:20)
http://www.voiceofisrael.com/getting-ready-elections-need-know/?auto=1

Unrelated – http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-cabinet-approves-jewish-state-law-after-fraught-meeting-1978258892
www.inn.co.il%2FNews%2FNews.aspx%2F288590&h=-AQEhXFdR
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/Laughing-matters-383914
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Bayit-Yehudi-opens-membership-ahead-of-primary-384270
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Bayit-Yehudi-and-Tekuma-still-at-loggerheads-over-joint-electoral-list-384411
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/188554#.VIoUNiuUfLk
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Bayit-Yehudi-ups-offer-to-Tekuma-to-avoid-religious-Zionist-split-384760
http://www.timesofisrael.com/hurly-burly-of-early-polling-rarely-holds-water-at-ballot-box/
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Primary-candidates-court-Bayit-Yehudi-Anglos-5-7-percent-of-the-party-385419
http://www.timesofisrael.com/lapid-to-western-immigrants-were-working-on-it/
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/189201#.VKAHml4AOs
http://www.jpost.com/International/Politics-Dropping-like-dominoes-386439
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/189690#.VK8UaSuUfLk
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/189764#.VLMYPCuUfLk
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Bayit-Yehudi-Anglos-recommend-primary-slate-387444
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Bayit-Yehudi-primary-could-be-postponed-over-transparency-complaints-387643
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Bayit-Yehudi-primary-polls-open-after-injunction-to-delay-vote-is-revoked-387695
http://www.france24.com/en/20152801-the-debate-escalation-israel-lebanon-part-two/
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/190780#.VM9y1miUfLk
http://972mag.com/perfecting-the-art-of-predicting-the-future-israeli-elections/102339/

Jeremy Saltan – the ‘Knesset Insider’ with No Regrets


http://www.iba.org.il/program.aspx?scode=1765541
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/191204#.VNu4YfmUfLk
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/New-Tech/Grassroots-group-translates-party-platforms-to-English-391122
http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-extremist-who-could-bring-kahanism-back-to-the-knesset/
http://www.voiceofisrael.com/anglo-vote-live/
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/netanyahus-speech-to-congress-fails-to-jolt-the-electoral-needle-at-home/2015/03/04/b8e9f31e-c0e0-11e4-a188-8e4971d37a8d_story.html
http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/the-truth-about-voting-bayit-yehudi/

Why Israel’s Election Is Too Close To Call

How Israel’s Exit Pollsters Missed Right-Wing Rally For Netanyahu



http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/192834#.VQnYd46UfLk
http://www.abc.net.au/newsradio/content/s4199630.htm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02ll6xh
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/18/israel-election-polls_n_6893084.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/19/affordable-care-act-fav_n_6900938.html
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/192813#.VQ6TdfmUfLk

December Voice of Israel Radio Links (will be updated as month goes on):

1) National Security w/Dan Diker: The Proposed Jewish State Law: National Security Protection or Peril? (Dec 1)

http://www.voiceofisrael.com/proposed-jewish-state-law-national-security-protection-peril/?auto=1

2) ISRAEL INSPIRED w/ARI ABRAMOWITZ & JEREMY GIMPEL: Breaking Down the Causes of Israel’s Coalition Crisis (Dec 2)

http://www.voiceofisrael.com/israeli-political-crisis/?auto=1

3) Josh Hasten Show: Is Springtime Election Season in Israel? (Dec 2)

http://www.voiceofisrael.com/springtime-election-season-israel/?auto=1

Highlight: https://soundcloud.com/voiceofisrael/hl-1-hasten-dec02-2014

4) National Security w/Dan Diker:  Israel’s Identity Crisis: Jewish and Democratic, or Democratic and Jewish? (Dec 2)

http://www.voiceofisrael.com/israels-identity-crisis-jewish-democratic-democratic-jewish/?auto=1

Highlight: http://www.voiceofisrael.com/jewish-state-not-equal-iranian-theocracy/

5) Hosting National Security: Our next COS: Gadi Eisenkott: Dove or Hawk. Who will be our next DM? (Dec 4)

http://www.voiceofisrael.com/effect-will-elections-israels-defense/?auto=1

6) Inside Israel Today w/Gil Hoffman: Getting ready for elections and elections for dummies (Dec 7)

http://www.voiceofisrael.com/getting-ready-elections-need-know/?auto=1

7) Josh Hasten Show: Analysis of yesterday’s Knesset vote to dissolve the current government in favor of new elections (Dec 10)

http://www.voiceofisrael.com/israeli-smartphone-app-glide-offers-video-chat-revolution/?auto=1

8) Live @ 5 Panel w/Molly Livingstone, Danny Seaman, Raoul Wootlif & Mottle Wolfe: Muslim in Jewish Home? (Dec 10)

http://www.voiceofisrael.com/not-jokethe-magician-muslim-one-muddy-feet/?auto=1

Highlight: http://www.voiceofisrael.com/?p=2672?auto=1

9) JERUSALEM DIARIES WITH JUDY LASH BALINT: Will the Real Knesset Insider Please Stand Up? (Dec 11)

http://www.voiceofisrael.com/will-real-knesset-insider-please-stand/?auto=1

10) Josh Hasten Show: Bennett-Ariel, Chetboun-Yishai (Dec 16)

http://www.voiceofisrael.com/understanding-challenges-american-jewry/?auto=1

Highlight: http://www.voiceofisrael.com/religious-zionists-stay-united-upcoming-elections/

11) REJUVENATION WITH EVE HAROW: Genealogy with Jeremy Saltan (Dec 21)

http://www.voiceofisrael.com/genealogy-jeremy-saltan-bds-dan-diker-house-experts-cousins/

12) NATIONAL SECURITY WITH DAN DIKER: What Will Become of the New York Times’ Roger Cohen? (Dec 23)

http://www.voiceofisrael.com/will-become-new-york-times-roger-cohen/?auto=1

13) Yishai Fleisher Show: Mapping out Arab List, Meretz, Labor-Livni (Dec 23)

http://www.voiceofisrael.com/mapping-spectrum-christian-salvation-israeli-political-left/?auto=1

14) Daniel Seaman filling in for the Josh Hasten’s Show: Anglos in Israeli Politics: A Force To Be Reckoned With?

http://www.voiceofisrael.com/anglos-gaining-influence-israeli-political-parties-land-swap-debate/?auto=1

Highlight of second half of interview: http://www.voiceofisrael.com/anglos-israeli-politics-force-reckoned/

15) Hanukkah Party: Live @ 5 (Dec 23)

http://www.voiceofisrael.com/?p=3597?auto=1

16) Gil Hoffman Show: Poll of Polls Average & Analysis (Dec 28)

http://www.voiceofisrael.com/israels-woes-crippling-corruption-socio-economic-stress/?auto=1

17) Josh Haten Show: Shas Collapse & Elections 101-Top 5 (Dec 30)

http://www.voiceofisrael.com/dishonorable-anti-semiticanti-israel-incidents-2014/?auto=1

Highlight – 2nd half: http://www.voiceofisrael.com/elections-101-introduction-top-5-parties-running-2015-knesset/

 

If you want to listen to 21 of my November interviews:

http://jeremysaltan.com/2014/11/04/november-voice-of-israel-radio-links/

If you want to listen to 13 of my October interviews:

http://jeremysaltan.com/2014/10/01/latest-voice-of-israel-radio-links/

 

Al Jazeera Debate: Jeremy vs Tibi

Did you catch Jeremy vs Tibi?

Watch my Al Jazeera debate with Deputy Speaker MK Ahmad Tibi on the topic:”Israel: Jewish state vs democracy?”

Non-US viewers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf3-TnbQKVg

For US viewers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmbYcOZWvWA&list=UU5V7YK8vypRqCA3nWKGa3qg

Al Jazeera Website: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2014/11/israel-jewish-state-vs-democracy-2014112417443270616.html

Following the Jeremy vs Tibi debate I had two follow-ups on Voice of Israel:

Panel discussion and more in-depth on Jewish State Bill: http://www.voiceofisrael.com/will-new-jewish-nation-state-bill-impact-israels-minorities/

Josh Hasten Analysis Recap (25 mins in)  http://www.voiceofisrael.com/campus-hillels-infiltrated-faux-pro-israel-student-groups/?auto=1

Middle East Eye caught one of tweets on the controversy surrounding the bill: http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israeli-cabinet-approves-jewish-state-law-after-fraught-meeting-1978258892

Israel National News: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/188184#.VIBhmTGUfLk

Prime Minister Yair Lapid?

Yesh Atid 19 + Labor 15 + Yisrael Beitenu 13 + Livni Party 6 + Meretz 6 + Kadima 2 = 61 of 120 MKs (a majority).

That is the coalition on the table that is supposedly being used as a threat to get in line.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/187443#.VGX4tfmUfLk

On October 28th Channel 10 journalist Raviv Drucker suggested the above coalition in a blog post.

http://drucker10.net/?p=2422

Lapid’s supposed threat is allowing Livni to speak more freely.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/187450#.VGX6jPmUfLk

Herzog wants everyone to know that everyone from Meretz to Yisrael Beitenu is ok with him.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/309007#.VGX_RvmUfLk

For now, it seems far fetched that a coalition with Zahava Gal-On and Avigdor Liberman could work.

However, this scenario has gained traction since it was first mentioned over 2 weeks ago.

This “Lapid as Prime Minister” scenario is a great example of proving the “traditional bloc polling” is as relevant now as it was when it went mainstream in 2006.

What is the point of polling blocs of coalition vs opposition if the senior coalition partner (also the largest party in the Knesset) is threatening to topple the Prime Minister and form a new government with the current set up or seats?

The President nominates a candidate for Prime Minister based on his or her ability to get to a minimum of 61 seats. The President meets with the leaders of each party and asks them who they will nominate for PM.

It is clear that the leaders of the parties in the “center-left-Arab” bloc (Lapid, Herzog, Livni, etc) will not nominate Netanyahu for another term. The leaders of the “right-religious” block might not nominate Netanyahu (Kachlon, Deri, etc), however it remains the most effective way of examining the possibility of a 4th Netanyahu term.

In my opinion Yair Lapid will most likely not be Prime Minister, however the supposed threat highlights the importance of the “bloc polling” which I include at the bottom of every poll.