Yisrael Beiteinu
Vote Seen Too Close to Call, Herzog 'Very Worried'
It may be true that all votes are counted equally, but in the final analysis, there might be only one that really counts. J.J. Goldberg explains why.
How Zionist Union Could Build Ruling Coalition
The battle for Israeli voters is red hot. J.J. Goldberg says the real debate is over the Zionist Union’s odds of forging a coalition — and the surprising partners who could put it over the top.
Labor Quakes As Scandal Shakes Lieberman Party
A major Israeli corruption scandal has struck right-winger Avigdor Lieberman. J.J. Goldberg explains why it could prove a huge — and unexpected — blow to the resurgent Labor Party.
UPDATE: Bibi Fires Lapid, Livni — Elections Coming
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday fired the heads of the two center-left parties in his coalition, finance minister Yair Lapid and justice minister Tzipi Livni. He’s expected to address the media at 10:10 p.m. Israel time (3:10 Eastern) to discuss the political situation.
Liberman Shuffle Leaves Bibi with No Knesset Edge
In a scarcely noticed series of political maneuvers, Bibi Netanyahu’s Likud party lost its primacy as the largest party in the Knesset last Wednesday. It’s now equal in size to Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party at 19 seats each. Moreover, don’t be surprised if the prime minister finds himself dropping to 18 in the fall. I don’t know how, but I’ll bet Avigdor Liberman does.
Why Avigdor Liberman Dumped Bibi
Avigdor Liberman, Bibi Netanyahu’s foreign minister and perennial rival, has ended his alliance with the Likud over his spurned demands for harsher strikes on Hamas.
Right Wing Gadfly Group Has Day in Knesset
Im Tirtzu, the right-wing Israeli truth squad best known for bashing the New Israel Fund, allowed itself a victory lap this week after taking credit for an “emergency” gathering in the Knesset on “delegitimization of Israel.”
Rightist Foils Bid to Open Books of Settlement Unit
The Israeli government continues to enjoy a measure of deniability in settlement activity, thanks to a postponed vote on the bill that would force transparency, writes J.J. Goldberg.
Knesset Liberals Block New Settlement Funding
New outpost goes up at Eli, Judea-West Bank, February 2008, courtesy of the World Zionist Organization / Getty Images
A Tough Slog Facing New Israeli Opposition Leader
To understand why Shelly Yachimovich was booted out as head of the Israel Labor Party after just two years on the job, it helps to note that Labor has had a bad habit, ever since Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination in 1995, of changing leaders every time it holds a primary.