Gaza’s Defeat to Weaken Netanyahu Next Elections

Local Editor

Al-Hayat pan-Arab daily viewed Friday that "the head of "Israeli" electoral battle re-emerged again two months before the date of the general elections."

"This comes as the implications of the "Pillar of Cloud" operation are to be revealed in the ballot boxes," the daily said.
Meanwhile, some Zionist commentators agreed that the military aggression on Gaza will lead to the toppling of "Israeli" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the next elections [as 2008 Cast Lead Operation lead to the fall of "Kadima" party.

"It is most likely that the extremist "Israeli" partied headed by the "religious - NRP" will pour their harsh criticism on Netanyahu to gain seats from his "Likud - Yisrael Beiteinu" alliance," al-Hayat said.
However, according to the daily, "this would lessen but doesn't eliminate the alliance's dominance."
In this context, a new "Israeli" poll showed Friday that discontent over the ceasefire has cost Netanyahu support but he should still win a Jan. 22 election.

"Israeli" Maariv newspaper survey showed that "the newly-merged party of Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, Likud Beitenu, would take 37 of the 120 parliamentary seats up for grabs on Jan. 22."
A poll before the conflict suggested they would win 43.
The two factions presently hold 42 seats combined.
The survey also said 31 percent of "Israelis" approved of the ceasefire while 49 percent were opposed. Asked if the army should have re-occupied Gaza, 41 percent were against and 29 percent in favor.

Moreover, it showed that "Israel's" splintered center-left bloc taking 50 seats, with a reinvigorated Labor almost tripling its quota of parliamentarians from eight to 22.


Source: al-Ahed News, translated and edited by moqawama.org