the following ad, anonymously sponsored, has gone up around the country..



The ad calls for the politicians/parties on the Left to unite in order to win, or to not lose votes.

While the public, for now, does not know who is behind it, I suspect some clues might give us some direction..

1. Benny Gantz is pictured front and center - right in the middle. He is, for now, Netanyahu's main challenger.

2. Ehud Barak isn't even running, and while rumors have spread about the possibility of him joining a political party, it has not happened yet and there is no real indication that it will. He has spent the lats year or so very publicly calling for Netanyahu's downfall.

3. Lapid, Gantz, Yaalon and Ashkenazi have all been called Left by Netanyahu and others on the Right, though the reality about them is either different or ambiguous. Lapid is somewhere in the center but at least lapid's position can be debatable, as he has been in politics and his positions are known. Gantz has remained silent and nobody knows which way he leans or what his positions are no anything. Ashkenazi isn't even in politics, though he has been rumored to be considering joining the fray - though his positions are not known and one of the rumors had him possibly joining the Likud. Yaalon is a former Likudnik, though possibly more towards the Center, ie left end, of the party than the Right edge. Yet all of these people have been labeled as Left by Netanyahu, Likud and others following suit on the Right.

In my opinion we will eventually find out that this ad is someone on the Right, maybe even from the Likud or someone close to Netanyahu, throwing shade at these wannabes.

Another interesting thing about this ad is that in the signs that went up in Bnei Braq, the image of Tzippi Livni was left out. Livni's face was left out because Bnei Braq will not approve public ads bearing he images of women.

In response to this, Livni has put out a call as if she is a representative of all the women - Bnei Braq was not removing her but the faces of all women. As if she has been fighting the fight of all women and represents them. She's right that Bnei Braq erases all women from public spaces, as is done in many other places around Israel and even abroad, but Tzippi Livni is not representative of that and women who vote for her to fight this fight will most likely be sorely disappointed when she does not, as she has not.

The Machane Tzioni leader, Avi Gabbay, today sent Tzippi Livni packing, informing her that he is breaking up the union and sent her packing.

Gabbay made this move on live television, with seemingly not having informed Livni in advance.

Goodbye and good luck to Tzippi Livni in finding her newest political base, having moved around way too many times in the past decade.

Still, while there was exciting drama in Gabbay's announcement, and I love some good political chaos, this was really inappropriate. It is fine to decide to break it up, but have the decency to tell her and let her react. Doing it on live tv is cruel. Perhaps Gabbay wanted to craft his own image as a powerful leader, an image that until now needed a big boost, but I am not sure this is the way...

MK Tzippi Livni (Hamachane Hatzioni), like all the MKs, is starting to prepare for elections. With Livni it might involve deciding in which political party to run this time, as she has moved from party to party over the past few elections. For the meantime she is still holding her bloc with Labor as Hamachane Hatzioni, but that can change at any time.

While they prepare for elections, Livni yesterday evening called up all the leaders of the left and center to form greater blocs and alignments in order to win the upcoming elections. She specifically called upon Avi Gabbay, head of the Labor party, among others, to put his ego aside for the greater good of putting the party first and winning the elections.

I find "put your ego aside" to be very similar to calls for "achdut" - unity. When people call for achdut, they almost always mean do it my way for the sake of unity. Only rarely do they mean I will do it your way, and even less frequently do they mean let's find a way together that might not be perfect but would be beneficial to everyone.  "Put your ego aside" means move over and let me rule. It does not mean I will put my ego aside. Better you than me.

So, Mr Gabbay, put your ego aside for the greater good, or at least for Tzippi Livni's good.

The end result is a bad result for the people of Israel. Is it a better result for Netanyahu? He paid an exorbitant price, but survival is probably more important to him than anything else

  -- MK Tzippi Livni

pot? kettle? black?

While it may be true, Livni is far from the right person to launch such a criticism on that.

People on the Left have done a lot of complaining over the past couple of days about what they call Netanyahu's hate campaign that he waged in the final week of the election.

I would really just give them time to get over their loss. They are disappointed. They worked hard, but they lost. Defeat is hard to take. I can understand they are bitter, and if we just give them a few days, a week, things will get back to the normal level of complaining and hate rather than this elevated level we are currently at.

This morning I heard Tzippi Lini interviewed on the radio. She was talking about Netanyahu's hate campaign and how much damage he has done with it. The radio talk show host actually called her on it and pointed out that Hamachane Hatzioni and all the other organizations on the Left were campaigning all along also with messages of hate and anger and negativity, so it is not right to just blame or accuse Netanyahu of this.

Livni's answer was amazing. She was even willing to admit that their campaign was filled with negativity and hate (she was only speaking for her own campaign and not for the other associated organizations that ran their own campaigns).

Livni found a way, without even blinking to explain how their hate campaign was really different than Netanyahu's. Her hate campaign was ok because it is true. Netanyahu really is bad, she said, and did all these bad thigns to Israel. So it was ok to run a negative, hate-filled, campaign against him. Only Netanyahu has no right to get nasty.

And we can go back to others as well. Lapid ran a campaign that went back to being anti-haredi. Whenever possible he warned the country that Netanyahu will pay off the Haredim. The Haredim will reverse all his gains? The Haredim will steal your hard-earned money again. Even on election day, Yesh Atid sent out text messages to their contact list stating that people should get the vote out in higher numbers to counter the Haredim.

I don't like what Netanyahu said, but when everyone else is saying the same thing abotu everyone else, any one person's statement ebcomes less important.

They don't even see their own hypocrisy.

more election musings:

I wonder if Chuck Norris made all the difference in the Netanyahu victory... were people too afraid to cross Norris that they decided to vote according to his wishes at the last moment? They feared his famous roundhouse kick!

Where does Tzippi Livni go from here. She has burned all her bridges. Is she interested in a rotation agreement as head of Opposition? She has shown that she has little to no electoral worth, and even dropping her at the last moment didn't help. Does she resign? Does she try to rebuild Hatnua? Take over Meretz now that Zahava Galon might unfortunately be resigning?

Qurei to Livni: "I'd vote for you"

  -- Al Jazeera

Ahmed Qurie is the former Palestinian Prime Minister

considering how the article goes on to describe how Livni gave in so little to the Palestinians in negotiations, and so little progress was made in the peace process, I don't understand why they support Livni.

That being said, if that is who the Palestinians want, I would presume it is because they think they have the upper hand with her. Maybe they think her alliance with Herzog would now make her more flexible than in her previous incarnations. Whatever the reason they think they are better off with Livni, it makes me think our interests are better served with Livni's opponent.

I'll start off by saying, I am favor of a debate, or a series of debates, between the candidates for prime minister, and separately between representatives of the various parties for Knesset. I think the issues should be laid out clearly in a way that the public can easily understand the various positions and be able to make an informed choice.

That being said:
I understand why Bibi is hesitant to debate Yitzchak Herzog (he says he is considering the matter). Bibi is the sitting Prime Minister, more or less running on his record, basically ahead in the polls, with everything to lose in a debate.
I understand why Herzog wants a debate. His campaign has been lagging. He seems to be behind, and  slowly falling further behind. Herzog has nothing to lose in a debate.

What I don't understand is why they are so reluctant to include Livni in the debate.

One of the conditions stipulated by Netanyahu is that the debate be between himself, Herzog and Livni.

Personally, I think it is a reasonable demand. Hamachane Hatzioni has presented and campaigned on the rotation agreement saying they will serve equally as prime minister, so she is as much a candidate as Herzog is, even though she would be second. If they consider Livni one of the PM candidates, and if that is how they sold her to the public as part of their agreement, she should be as much involved in the debate as Herzog and Netanyahu would be.

I do not know why she is refusing, and why Hamachane Hatzioni does not want her up there.

As a matter of fact, I think she would do much better in a debate against Netanyahu than Herzog would. Livni is a tough character, while Herzog is a bit wishy-washy and much weaker.

I suspect that the reason is that in a three-way debate either:
a. they are worried that Herzog and Livni would end up contradicting each other in their answers and the public would ask how feasible it is for them to actually work together later, and if this rotation is actually a good idea or not
b. they are worried that Bibi would play them off each other. Livni was right-wing until recently, and Herzog has spoken badly of her in the past. Livni sat in the government and cannot really, even though she acts like she can, abdicate all responsibility for actions the government took while she was a senior partner in it.

I don't know if those are the actual reasons, but a three-way debate seems to make more sense to me than a two-way debate, in this electoral situation, and I do not think Netanyahu is wrong for insisting on it. Let the Labor voters, and other voters, know what they are getting in this rotation deal with Livni.

I don't think Hamachane Hatzioni, Bujie and Tzippi, are really in this to win an election. At least not on their own merits or efforts. Perhaps they are hoping that foreign intervention and money, like V15 and others, can sweep them in, but that would be despite their own efforts, not in addition to or in compliment of.

Why is that?

First of all, Bujie and Tzippi have yet to really present their plan to the public. They still seem to only be running on the "just not Bibi" ticket, but are not actually promoting themselves. they made a slight effort with a few minor campaign promises, but they have not explained their plans to the public.

it is true, neither has Bibi. I would posit though, that Bibi does not need to (even if he should). Bibi has been prime minister, has been in charge, and everyone pretty much knows what he stands for, more or less. He is the known,  not the unknown. The unknown are his challengers, and for them to win either Bibi has to be really bad or they have to explain clearly and loudly what they would do and how it would be better.

Second, the numbers just do not add up, and they seem to be making efforts to make it worse for themselves.

While the numbers in regards to the blocs seem to have always been in favor of Netanyahu, recently they have gotten so, much more sharply.

The other day Herzog announced he would support an effort to have Hanin Zoabi banned form the Knesset (along with Baruch Marzel). In response, the Arab party demanded he retract and indicated they would not support him and recommend him to the President for Prime minister. There goes give or take 12 votes from his bloc of recommendations. And he was already behind.

And now, the Arab division of his own party is saying that they have not been active for the party, and will not be, because they cannot come to terms with the name of the united list that they are running on - The Zionist Camp (or Zionist Union). They demanded Herzog stop using that name and until then they will not take part in the campaign. The sides are in negotiations to find a solution. They may eventually find one, but in the meantime they are getting hurt daily by the lack of campaigning and support. Meaning they are not just giving up on votes within the bloc, but even within their own party.

My conclusion is that Herzog and Livni, probably Herzog more than Livni, have not been campaigning to win the elections, but only to come out strong enough to be attractive to Bibi for a national unity government of some formation. Maybe they hope for a rotation arrangement, but I doubt they'll be strong enough to be able to demand that and receive it.

That would also be why Meretz has spent much of their campaign directed against Herzog and Livni demanding that they commit to not joining a Bibi led government after the elections. They have campaigned so more than they have campaigned for themselves (with the polls showing the result with Meretz down in numbers). Even Bennet has spent some time campaigning in that direction - to prevent a unity government.

While some Likudniks (including most recently Benny Begin) have said such a government won't happen, it does not mean Herzog cannot try for it.

So, it seems to me that Herzog and Livni are not campaigning to win but only to be strong enough to be attractive to Bibi as an alternative to a straight right-wing government.

as Livni leaves the stage and Bennet gets on the stage, Bennet thanks Livni for changing her opinion recently by saying the Golan is not negotiable, considering she had earlier negotiated its status. Livni did not like it, and comes back to face Bennet.

The Labor Party gets today's FSotD for an image of Livni and Herzog posing as Men in Black, with a caption saying that together they will erase the 6 years of Netanyahu's rule..



let's not forget, as Tzippi Livni clearly wants us to, that she was a major part of Netanyahu's government for some of that time...

Tzippi Livni worked very hard to get herself a good deal in running a united list with the Labor party. She got decent to good reserved spots for all her 6 MKs, even though her party, Hatnua, has been polling to not pass the minimum threshold.

Livni will be using her spot, as will Amir Peretz.

Amram Mitzna resigned today from politics

Elazar Stern resigned the other day from Hatnua and is looking for something new. Ostensibly because he was not willing to join Labor, but it is probably more complicated than just that.

Dovid Tzur also resigned from Hatnua yesterday.

Maariv is reporting that Meir Shitrit is planning to resign tomorrow from Hatnua.

So, what exactly did Tzippi Livni fight for and conduct all those negotiations over? And, did she not talk to her own people about their plans before agreeing to merge or unite with another party? I wonder if Labor feels ripped off, as they expected these big-name politicians to be working for them come elections time, and now all they have is Livni and Peretz. I also wonder, will Livni now be looking for some names to stick into her reserved spots on the joint list?

Hatnua means "the movement", but it seems like the movement is really in the direction of out the door.

Weird.

The other day, the police and authorities would not allow the Women of the Wall to cnoduct a menora-lighting ceremony near the Kotel. Yet, yesterday, they did allow Tzippi Livni (along with Yitzchak Herzog) to conduct such a ceremony. And not just a side ceremony with a small menorah, like the WoW wanted to do, but the central lighting on the main menorah.



What's the difference?

From the perspective of the Women of the Wall, they should just grant Tzippi Livni honorary membership and declare it a victory.

MK Elazar Stern has announced his leaving the Hatnua political party. He is looking into his options, including possibly joining a different party. His reasons are the way Tzippi Livni came to her arrangement with the Labor party, along with some other reasons.

Personally, I don't care much for Stern. For me at least it is not particularly sad to see him go. He was definitely disruptive to the system, and I like that, but I did not like him, his style or his goals.

What I find interesting about this is not his leaving the party, but something else he says in his letter to Livni. He decided to not take his portion of the government funding to the party with him to wherever he goes next, despite having consulted with legal experts and being told explicitly unanimously that legally and morally he is well within his rights to take the money. Stern says that every single person he consulted with had no problem with his taking the money, except for one. That person was Tzippi Livni, who wanted him to leave his money in her hands.
source: NRG

That I find interesting. Tzippi Livni who has jumped from political party to political party and has made sure to take her portion of the funding along with her wherever she went, as was her right, objected when someone else wanted to do the same to her, as per his rights.

With Tzippi Livni, what's good for the goose is not good for the gander.

I've appreciated politicians previously appearing on comedy shows like Matzav Hauma (State of the Nation) or others and having a good laugh.

The difference between Tzippi Livni's appearance this past Motzei Shabbos on Matzav HaUma and appearances by other politicians in the past (that I have seen or am aware of), is that the other politicians I have seen all have a good laugh and poke fun at themselves and their own party (mostly). Livni spent her time poking fun at, and bad mouthing, other politicians and not herself.

It was distasteful, to say the least, but I don't think it was horrible. It is election season, and while she spoke with a potty-mouth, the setting was one that almost allowed such behavior. Some might see her as not-statesman-like now, but that's the risk she took. It really did not bother me as much as some of the reactions I saw from politicians.

The one point that I think should hurt her is nothing she said against Bibi or Bennet, though it probably will, but something else she said. She called the Palestinians idiots.

With her having been chief of negotiations, she was in a position to know exactly what was going on. If her idea of diplomacy is to call the Palestinians idiots for not yet making peace on her terms, and then expect them to sit with her in good faith at a future date, she's got another think coming. I'd be surprised if this specific statement she made does not come back to haunt her at some point in the future, sooner or later.

My thoughts on the unification between Labor under Yitzchak Herzog and Hatnua under Tzippi Livni:

1. I am not quite sure how this is working. Are the two parties merging? Are they two separate parties running a joint list, similar to what Likud and Yisrael Beyteynu did last time? Is Hatnua folding and its members joining Labor?

2. Herzog was smart enough to take the first slot in the rotation. Going back to the foundation of the State of Israel, the average government has lasted about 2.5 years until new elections were called. By taking the first slot, Herzog guarantees for himself, if Labor should win the elections, the prime ministerial position, and the possibility of Livni's slot actually happening is a question.

3. I heard the press conference on the radio. I wonder why Tzippi Livni kept calling him "Herzog" and not using his first name, both names, his nickname Boojie, or Mr. Herzog. It sounded strange.

4. Herzog spoke about unity solving Israel's problems, specifically mentioning various aspects of the economy. While unity can do a lot and help overcome problems, I would have liked to hear his, or their, plan to solve the problems he says Netanyahu created of cost of living increases, Israelis not finishing the month, low salaries, etc. Unity is important and helpful, but I'd like to hear an actual plan for the problems he claims he will be able to solve.

5. Rotations for heads of government have generally been used in the past for unity governments. The one that comes to mind immediately was Shimon Peres and Yitzchak Shamir's arrangement. Doing a rotation of the prime minister position from your own party seems strange and seems to portray instability. I wonder how that will play out in the publics eyes in the coming weeks.

6. Still on the rotation, the pundits looking at the various polls and coming up with commentary based on them have been saying, prior to this agreement with Livni, that if Herzog wins his only option would be a unity government with the Likud. I don't know if that is true or not, but assuming the scenario the pundits talk about has a good chance of happening, how would such a rotation government work now - Herzog two years, Livni two years, and Netanyahu for how long? Would they each go down to 1.3 years? Will this arrangement mean that Herzog, if he should win, would no longer need to be limited to the sole option of a unity government?

7. if Labor should not win the elections in March, what happens to this unity? Will they say together? This seems to be Livni's ticket to the Prime Minister seat, but if that won't get her there, then what? will she jump ship again and look for another party to join?

This movement to run a campaign against Netanyahu seems like a big joke.

There are talks of either working together to support a single candidate opposing Netanyahu, i.e. commit to not recommending Netanyahu after the next election no matter the results and not to join a Netanyahu coalition, or possibly the formation of a bloc of center-left parties to run together, or the possibility of Lvni, Lapid, and their people joining Labor or some other similar arrangement.

In the meantime, Tzippi Livni is out there talking about how she is going to replace Netanyahu, she is ready for the job, she is the one. While Livni is saying this, Yitzchak Herzon, a.k.a. Boojie, is out there talking about how they all need to oppose Netanyahu and support him. And while they are saying that, actually long before they have said this, Lapid has been saying he is worthy of being the next prime Minister.

Is it really possible for any of them to be willing to take a step back and let one of the others be the leader and the one to be the prime ministerial candidate? the number one of the center-left? Will any of them be willing to be second-fiddle or third-fiddle to any one or two of the others? I can see Herzog taking a step back in some scenario. I can see Kachlon taking a step back in some scenario. I cannot see either Livni or Lapid taking a step back in any scenario.

I don't see this working, just because of egos. And that is without even getting involved in debating whether any of these candidates could win enough support to get close to outing Netanyahu...

Tzippi Livni: I am ripe to be the prime minister

  -- NRG

I think she is overripe. Maybe spoiled already.

Livni is delusional. Delusions of grandeur. She might be ripe, but has just about no following. Her political party only garnered 6 seats last time, and is now polling to disappear, unless she jumps ship and joins another party..

In the past ten years, Livni has moved from the Likud to Kadima to Hatnua, and now possibly a fourth party.. this sounds more like she is worried about her job rather than being an actual leader and someone with ideals and beliefs..

ridiculous of her to say such a thing. this is government policy?

Enough with this shallow discussion between devout secular and devout religious. The need to respect the Shabbos is not a favor we are doing for Mea Shearim or Bnei Braq.

  -- Justice Minister Tzippi Livni

Livni said this when referring to Gideon Saar's decision to not allow most Tel Aviv markets to open on Shabbos. Livni also said that she is going to strongly promote Silvan Shalom's solution turning Sundays into a weekend. Livni said she supports turning Sunday into a long weekend, so that Sunday will be the day people have available for tiyulim, for shopping, for restaurants, entertainment, etc. Doing so, Livni said, will protect with the symbolism of Shabbos and will protect the special nature of Shabbos and the holidays, which also have social values. It will allow a date a day of rest on which everything is open
source: NRG and Ladaat

fabulous! and I thought Shalom's proposal was basically dead in the water for a long time already!