Word: knesset
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...they believed that would stop Lieberman, whom they see as a demagogue and an anti-Arab racist, from scoring big in Tuesday's elections. In Israel's fractious political scene, it is nearly impossible today for any single party to win a simple majority in the 120-seat Knesset. There's little chance that Lieberman could be elected Prime Minister - at best, his Yisrael Beitenu Party will place third - but he is expected to emerge as the kingmaker who will decide whether the former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of the hawkish Likud Party, or Tzipi Livni, the centrist Foreign Minister...
...Netanyahu may have good reason to count himself the victor. That's because Tuesday's vote confirmed a sharp swing to the right by Israel's electorate, with exit polls giving a combined right-wing bloc led by Netanyahu gaining 64 of the 120 seats in the Knesset, compared with only 56 for center-left bloc led by Livni. Late last year, Livni failed to form a majority coalition when she took over her party from disgraced Prime Minister Ehud Olmert - a failure that triggered Tuesday's election. And she may not fare any better this time despite her party...
...Netanyahu, despite his second-place in the head-to-head will nonetheless be able to command a Knesset-majority coalition if Livni fails to tempt some of his allies to back her. (And, of course, the price for Livni winning backing from parties of the right will necessarily restrain her plans to pursue peace talks with the Palestinian Authority.) It will be up to Israel's president, Shimon Peres, to tap Livni or Netanyahu to form a government, based on his consultations with all parties. And, of course, these projections are based on exit polls - and some observers suggest that...
...would become part of a future Palestinian state. Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu party is expected to garner 18 to 19 seats, bumping the venerable old Labor party, headed by ex-premier and current defense minister Ehud Barak, 66, into fourth place. As for the rest of the 120-seat Knesset, according to the latest polls, Likud is expected to win 25 to 27 seats there; Kadima 23 to 25 seats...
...especially among women voters, Kadima could emerge as the leading party. Labor and the smaller leftwing parties would rally to her side, but only if she refuses to draft the hawkish Lieberman into her coalition. Yet without Lieberman's backing, Livni will fall short of a majority in the Knesset. So Lieberman, the ex-nightclub bouncer, will decide if it is Livni or Netanyahu who is allowed past the velvet rope to this charmed circle of power. And whoever gains entrance has no choice but to bring Lieberman in with them...