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Letter to Obama from Knesset Lobby for Jonathan Pollard’s Release (Over 100 MKS)

Filed under: Daily Updates, Knesset — 1 Comment
December 27, 2013

Over a 100 MKs signed the following letter that was sent to President Obama:

______________________________________________________________________________

President Barack Obama

The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20500

 

Subject: Jonathan Pollard – Release

 

Dear Mr. President,

We, the members of the Knesset of Israel, turn to you to request that you order the release of Jonathan Pollard from prison.

Pollard has already served a 29-year punishment for his serious offenses. This is the longest prison term ever served for these crimes.

Conditions are ripe for his release.

Over the years Defense and Intelligence officials in previous U.S. administrations have expressed their professional opinion that Pollard should be released. This request was also presented to Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Within the American public, the American Jewish community and, of course, in Israel there is a broad movement calling for Pollard’s release.

Mr. President, we ask that you give proper consideration to this request and order the release of Jonathan Pollard on humanitarian and humanistic grounds. It is in your hands to grant him the chance to end his life a free man.

The time has come to end the chapter of espionage between Israel and the United States.

 

Sincerely yours,

Knesset Lobby for Jonathan Pollard’s Release

MK Dr. Nachman Shai, MK Ayelet Shaked

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Panels Polls Current & w/3.25% threshold: Likud Beitenu 33 (w/new threshold 35), Labor 16 (17), Yesh Atid 13 (14), Bayit Yehudi 13 (14)

Filed under: Knesset, Polls — 8 Comments
December 26, 2013

Panels conducted a poll that was broadcast by the Knesset Channel on Dec 26 2013.

Additionally, Panels released a scenario poll result of a 3.25% threshold.

Current Knesset seats in [brackets]
33 [31] Likud Beitenu
16 [15] Labor
13 [19] Yesh Atid
13 [12] Bayit Yehudi
11 [06] Meretz
10 [11] Shas
06 [07] Yahadut Hatorah/UTJ
06 [06] Movement
04 [04] Hadash
03 [04] Ra’am-Ta’al
03 [03] Balad
02 [02] Kadima
62 [61] Right-Religious
58 [59] Center-Left-Arab

Panels conducted a scenario poll that was broadcast by the Knesset Channel on Dec 26 2013.

Current Knesset seats in [brackets]

35 [31] Likud Beitenu
17 [15] Labor
14 [19] Yesh Atid
14 [12] Bayit Yehudi
12 [06] Meretz
11 [11] Shas
07 [07] Yahadut Hatorah/UTJ
06 [06] Movement
04 [04] Hadash (4 is very borderline)
00 [04] Ra’am-Ta’al
00 [03] Balad
00 [02] Kadima
67 [61] Right-Religious
53 [59] Center-Left-Arab

Knesset Jeremy Analysis: The old traditional blocks are at 62-58 compared to the 60-60 tie in the Midgam poll. The scenario poll with a 3.25% threshold makes a good case for a Hadash, Ra’am-Ta’al & Balad merger. The 3.25% threshold would enforce a 4 seat threshold.

Hadash’s high is 5 seats (last reached in 1988). Ra’am’s high is also 5 seats (1999). Balad has never won more than 3 seats.

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Walla Poll: Likud Beitenu 32, Labor 17, Yesh Atid 14, Bayit Yehudi 11, Shas 9

Filed under: Knesset, Polls — 3 Comments
December 25, 2013

Midgam conducted a poll that was broadcast/published by Walla on Dec 25 2013.

Current Knesset seats in [brackets]
32 [31] Likud Beitenu
17 [15] Labor
14 [19] Yesh Atid
11 [12] Bayit Yehudi
09 [11] Shas
07 [06] Meretz
07 [06] Movement
06 [07] Yahadut Hatorah/UTJ
04 [04] Hadash
04 [04] Ra’am-Ta’al
03 [03] Balad
02 [02] Kadima
02 [–] Strong Israel
02 [–] Green Party

60 [61] Right-Religious
60 [59] Center-Left-Arab

Knesset Jeremy Analysis: Yesh Atid & Livni are slowly regaining voters at the expense of Meretz. The old traditional blocks are tied at 60-60.

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Tidbits

Filed under: Knesset, Other — 1 Comment
December 23, 2013

* Negotiations Deadline with Palestinians is April 29. Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) is April 28. It should lead to interesting speeches. Although, Knesset will be on recess.

* The current Knesset winter session will end on March 23rd 2014. March 23rd is a Sunday, so Wednesday March 19 will most likely be the last Knesset plenum day of the session. High profile bills such as the National Referendum, Electoral Reform and Haredi Draft Bills are expected to be passed in their third readings before the session ends.

* The Knesset’s summer session will start on May 11th 2014 and end on August 3rd 2014. The following winter session would start on October 26th 2014.

* I’m looking forward to more polling. Nothing to report right now. There has been some talk in polling company circles about polling a Kachalon party. I have not heard anyone talk about polling a new Shimon Peres party.

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Globes/Smith Poll following Liberman Trial & Labor Primary: Likud Beitenu 37, Labor 19, Bayit Yehudi 12, Yesh Atid 11, Shas 10

Filed under: Knesset, Polls — 9 Comments
November 28, 2013

Smith conducted a poll of 500 people with a 4.5% margin of error that was published by Globes on Nov 28 2013.

Current Knesset seats in [brackets]
37 [31] Likud Beitenu
19 [15] Labor
12 [12] Bayit Yehudi
11 [19] Yesh Atid
10 [11] Shas
09 [06] Meretz
08 [07] Yahadut Hatorah/UTJ
04 [04] Hadash
04 [04] Ra’am-Ta’al
03 [06] Movement
03 [03] Balad
00 [02] Kadima

67 [61] Right-Religious
53 [59] Center-Left-Arab

Knesset Jeremy Analysis: Likud Beitenu’s bump is three seats higher than the Panels poll. Labor is second place with 19 seats in both polls. Bayit Yehudi receives 12 seats in both polls. Shas also receives 10 seats in both polls. Meretz has 9 seats in the Smith poll and is the sixth largest party compared to 13 seats and third largest party in the Panels poll. In this poll Livni’s Movement party is down to three seats, barely above the current threshold of 2% which is expected to be raised.
Bottom line: The 67 seats in this poll for the four right wing and religious factions would ensure a very stable coalition for PM Netanyahu without the need of adding coalition pieces from the center or left.

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