APN's daily news review from Israel
Thursday March 19, 2015
Quote of the day:
"In the absence of the absolute pretension of being – even in appearance alone – prime minister to all,
Netanyahu compared the attempt to replace him – through the election he himself initiated – as a putsch. He
compared his rivals with ISIS [Islamic State] and his opponents to Hamas. He growled his rivals’ names with
contempt, warning time and again against a “left-wing government supported by Arabs,” and in practice,
identifying anybody not supportive of him as “left.”
--Haaretz+'s Uri Misgav argues that while Binyamin Netanyahu may be prime minister, he is no longer the national leader of Israel.**
--Haaretz+'s Uri Misgav argues that while Binyamin Netanyahu may be prime minister, he is no longer the national leader of Israel.**
Front Page:
Haaretz
- Netanyahu puts out feelers for rightist coalition
- Meet the heir // Yossi Verter
- Netanyahu revealed his true face – and voters loved it // Aluf Benn
- It’s security, stupid // Amos Harel
- The bad winds of the summer // Chemi Shalev
- The mandates dropped, the ultra-Orthodox power rose // Yair Ettinger
- Palestine is not waiting for Netanyahu // Zvi Bar’el
- Time for concern // Amir Oren
- Tragedy of the Left // Aeyal Gross
- Cross-section of vote: Landslide for Netanyahu in periphery and among the middle class
- The bungling of the pollsters and the media // Nati Tucker
- (Meretz leader) Gal-On: I will resign if Meretz wins only 4 mandates
- They will miss Meretz // Yossi Sarid
- At least 22 killed in attack against tourists near the Tunisian parliament
- Emergency hour // Haaretz Editorial
- Don’t despair // Ari Shavit
Yedioth Ahronoth
- The fourth Netanyahu government – 2015 elections: Landslide victory for Netanyahu (photo of Netanyahu praying at Wailing Wall)
- Built for voting polls // Sima Kadmon
- The insult of the amulets // Ben-Dror Yemini
- I am happy // Yifat Ehrlich
- This is how we voted – Joke or protest: Hundreds in (Arab city) Um al-Fahem chose the ballot of the letter ‘zayin’ for the ‘Economic Party led by the Goldstein Brothers’; In (ultra-Orthodox) Beitar Illit: 27 gave their vote to ‘Green Leaf’; In Kiryat Arba they are asking, “Who are the 10 who voted for Meretz”; Israel between right and left: In which cities did Netanyahu win and where did they prefer Herzog?
Maariv This Week (Hebrew links only)
- A new start (Photo of Netanyahu praying near Wailing Wall)
- This is how the settlers rescued Netanyahu from defeat
- The left-wing has disappeared // Michal Aharoni
- What’s the celebration about // Shmuel Rosner
- Four years of quiet // Karni Eldad
- Real results: Likud 30; Zionist Camp 24; Joint (Arab) List 14; Yesh Atid 11; Kahlon’s Kulanu 10; Habayit Hayehudi 8; Shas 7; Yehadut Hatorah 6; Yisrael Beiteinu 6; Meretz 4
Israel Hayom
- Forming a coalition
- The forecast and the polls: The black hour of the pollsters
- The public has pulled the plug on Yedioth // Itsik Saban
- The defeat of the media // Haim Shine
- Zehava Gal-On announced she will resign if Meretz remains with 4 mandates
- The new faces of the Knesset: Record number of women
- Votes that disappeared: 176,000 given to 16 lists that did not pass the threshold
News Summary:
Today’s newspapers discussed which parts of the country and which socio-economic groups voted for whom leading to the surprising landslide re-election of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the shocking defeat of Zionist Camp leader Isaac Herzog. The papers also discussed how Netanyahu will respond to his various potential partners’ political conditions and demands to be ministers to form this right-wing coalition, which he said will be up and running in three weeks time. Also a top story was the US Administration’s reaction to Netanyahu’s victory and to a lesser extent the reaction of the Palestinians and the world.
Maariv’s political affairs editor, Ben Caspit, a bitter critic of Netanyahu, reported that the settlers gave Netanyahu his victory. Six days before elections, Netanyahu held a secret meeting with some settler leaders, admitted that he was facing defeat and asked them for help. They responded positively. Indeed, the party that the religious settlers would normally support, Naftali Bennett’s Habayit Hayehudi, was decimated. And the extremist Yachad party didn’t even make it over the threshold. Haaretz+ showed the election results by city: Likud received 10,000 more votes in the settlements than in 2013. Haaretz+ also analyzed a cross-section of the vote and found that Netanyahu and Likud also won by taking poorer Jewish towns inside Israel.
Zionist Camp leader Isaac Herzog vowed to fight Netanyahu’s ‘radical right-wing’ government. Tzipi Livni also said she would not be part of Netanyahu's coalition and that the battle wasn't over. Interestingly, Haaretz+ reported that Zionist Camp activists’ resentment was not directed at its leaders but at Yair Lapid and his Yesh Atid party, which are seen as having taken precious votes from Zionist Camp.
Yedioth noted that leaders from all over the world, as well as US Republicans, congratulated Netanyahu on his re-election – but only US President Barck Obama has not yet called. Instead, the White House said it was “deeply concerned” by Netanyahu’s “divisive” anti-Arab rhetoric, referring to Netanyahu’s call to potential Jewish voters to vote because Arab citizens were voting ‘in droves. “The Obama administration is deeply concerned by the use of divisive rhetoric in Israel that sought to marginalize Arab Israeli citizens…This rhetoric undermines the values and Democratic ideals that have been important to our democracy and an important part of what binds the United States and Israel together…These are views the administration intends to communicate directly to the Israelis,” said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest.”
Netanyahu’s declaration the day before elections that he opposes a Palestinian state has now gotten the reactions of the world. Earnest said that President Obama continues to believe that the best solution for the conflict is an independent state for Palestinians. However, he added, “Based on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s comments, the United States will reevaluate our position and the path forward in this situation." The European Union appears to have ignored Netanyahu’s declaration. EU chief Frederica Mogherini said, "The EU is committed to working with the incoming Israeli government on a mutually beneficial relationship as well as on the re-launch of the peace process.” Maariv’s Shlomo Shamir, who is based in New York, interviewed UN diplomats who expressed their disappointment at Netanyahu’s re-election. That dissatisfaction was tinged with anger and anxiety over Netanyahu’s now declared opposition to a two-state solution. "I hope that the statement will be revealed as electioneering trickery," said a senior diplomatic source. Arab League Secretary-General Nabi Arabi dismissed Netanyahu’s statements as "electioneering."
But the Palestinians said Netanyahu has long opposed the two-state solution and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called on the world to pressure Israel after the election. "Likud's victory is burying the peace process,” said Erekat (Maariv) Erekat blamed the international community for Netanyahu’s reelection and that the results show 'the success of a campaign platform based on settlements, racism, and apartheid.” Secretary General of PLO Central Committee, Jibril Rajoub, said: "The results of the Israeli elections…prove that Israeli society is fascist and racist, and is moving towards radicalization…Netanyahu's recent behavior proves he underestimates international legitimacy.” PLO official Yasser Abed Rabbo said, "Israel chose the path of racism, occupation and settlement building, and did not choose the path of negotiations and partnership between us.”
Interestingly, the Palestinians used some of the rhetoric that the Israelis and international community have used against them for years. Senior PA officials told Haaretz that Netanyahu’s re-election, after declaring opposition to a Palestinian state, proves there is no partner in Israel. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sounded like Israel and the Mideast Quartet speaking to Hamas when he said that cooperation with Israel required that the Israeli government recognize the two-state solution.
Also of interest, Maariv’s Yasser Yakubi and Ynet's Roi Kais reported on the frustration and disappointment expressed in the Arab world media over Netanyahu’s win. "Peace is a big loser," they wrote, thereby expressing something not reported on in Israeli newspapers: Arab countries’ desire for peace. Western media discussed Netanyahu’s undemocratic and racist scare tactics.
Haaretz+ noted that the Jewish world was divided. Some complimented Netanyahu’s win, while others, such as the pro-peace US lobby J Street, called the election a 'deep disappointment' for those who hoped for change. Only Iran said Netanyahu's party was no different from all the other 'aggressor' Zionist parties.
Today’s newspapers discussed which parts of the country and which socio-economic groups voted for whom leading to the surprising landslide re-election of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the shocking defeat of Zionist Camp leader Isaac Herzog. The papers also discussed how Netanyahu will respond to his various potential partners’ political conditions and demands to be ministers to form this right-wing coalition, which he said will be up and running in three weeks time. Also a top story was the US Administration’s reaction to Netanyahu’s victory and to a lesser extent the reaction of the Palestinians and the world.
Maariv’s political affairs editor, Ben Caspit, a bitter critic of Netanyahu, reported that the settlers gave Netanyahu his victory. Six days before elections, Netanyahu held a secret meeting with some settler leaders, admitted that he was facing defeat and asked them for help. They responded positively. Indeed, the party that the religious settlers would normally support, Naftali Bennett’s Habayit Hayehudi, was decimated. And the extremist Yachad party didn’t even make it over the threshold. Haaretz+ showed the election results by city: Likud received 10,000 more votes in the settlements than in 2013. Haaretz+ also analyzed a cross-section of the vote and found that Netanyahu and Likud also won by taking poorer Jewish towns inside Israel.
Zionist Camp leader Isaac Herzog vowed to fight Netanyahu’s ‘radical right-wing’ government. Tzipi Livni also said she would not be part of Netanyahu's coalition and that the battle wasn't over. Interestingly, Haaretz+ reported that Zionist Camp activists’ resentment was not directed at its leaders but at Yair Lapid and his Yesh Atid party, which are seen as having taken precious votes from Zionist Camp.
Yedioth noted that leaders from all over the world, as well as US Republicans, congratulated Netanyahu on his re-election – but only US President Barck Obama has not yet called. Instead, the White House said it was “deeply concerned” by Netanyahu’s “divisive” anti-Arab rhetoric, referring to Netanyahu’s call to potential Jewish voters to vote because Arab citizens were voting ‘in droves. “The Obama administration is deeply concerned by the use of divisive rhetoric in Israel that sought to marginalize Arab Israeli citizens…This rhetoric undermines the values and Democratic ideals that have been important to our democracy and an important part of what binds the United States and Israel together…These are views the administration intends to communicate directly to the Israelis,” said White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest.”
Netanyahu’s declaration the day before elections that he opposes a Palestinian state has now gotten the reactions of the world. Earnest said that President Obama continues to believe that the best solution for the conflict is an independent state for Palestinians. However, he added, “Based on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s comments, the United States will reevaluate our position and the path forward in this situation." The European Union appears to have ignored Netanyahu’s declaration. EU chief Frederica Mogherini said, "The EU is committed to working with the incoming Israeli government on a mutually beneficial relationship as well as on the re-launch of the peace process.” Maariv’s Shlomo Shamir, who is based in New York, interviewed UN diplomats who expressed their disappointment at Netanyahu’s re-election. That dissatisfaction was tinged with anger and anxiety over Netanyahu’s now declared opposition to a two-state solution. "I hope that the statement will be revealed as electioneering trickery," said a senior diplomatic source. Arab League Secretary-General Nabi Arabi dismissed Netanyahu’s statements as "electioneering."
But the Palestinians said Netanyahu has long opposed the two-state solution and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called on the world to pressure Israel after the election. "Likud's victory is burying the peace process,” said Erekat (Maariv) Erekat blamed the international community for Netanyahu’s reelection and that the results show 'the success of a campaign platform based on settlements, racism, and apartheid.” Secretary General of PLO Central Committee, Jibril Rajoub, said: "The results of the Israeli elections…prove that Israeli society is fascist and racist, and is moving towards radicalization…Netanyahu's recent behavior proves he underestimates international legitimacy.” PLO official Yasser Abed Rabbo said, "Israel chose the path of racism, occupation and settlement building, and did not choose the path of negotiations and partnership between us.”
Interestingly, the Palestinians used some of the rhetoric that the Israelis and international community have used against them for years. Senior PA officials told Haaretz that Netanyahu’s re-election, after declaring opposition to a Palestinian state, proves there is no partner in Israel. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sounded like Israel and the Mideast Quartet speaking to Hamas when he said that cooperation with Israel required that the Israeli government recognize the two-state solution.
Also of interest, Maariv’s Yasser Yakubi and Ynet's Roi Kais reported on the frustration and disappointment expressed in the Arab world media over Netanyahu’s win. "Peace is a big loser," they wrote, thereby expressing something not reported on in Israeli newspapers: Arab countries’ desire for peace. Western media discussed Netanyahu’s undemocratic and racist scare tactics.
Haaretz+ noted that the Jewish world was divided. Some complimented Netanyahu’s win, while others, such as the pro-peace US lobby J Street, called the election a 'deep disappointment' for those who hoped for change. Only Iran said Netanyahu's party was no different from all the other 'aggressor' Zionist parties.
Quick Hits:
- Settlers take over Palestinian building, land in Silwan - Settlers and private security guards raided a building belonging to the al-Malhi family and took over three apartments, before changing the locks and removing all furniture. Israeli forces cordoned off the property ahead of the move, with the settlers also taking over tens of dunams of land belonging to the al-Abbasi and Shaban families. (Maan)
- Official: Israeli soldiers uproot 300 olive trees near Nablus - Israeli forces on Wednesday evening uprooted 300 olive trees and destroyed more than 5,000 meters of stone barriers belonging to Palestinians in the village of Majdal Bani Fadil south of Nablus. (Maan)
- Israeli forces prevent PA police from arresting drug dealers in Nablus -Two Israeli army vehicles prevented the Palestinian police and security forces from reaching the village despite that the Israeli side was informed that Palestinian forces were heading to the village by previous coordination. (Maan)
- IDF force disables bomb near Gaza border - Gaza Division spotted and disabled an explosive device on the Gazan side of the security fence that they believe was planted in the past few days or weeks. (Ynet)
- 9 injured as Israeli forces open fire on protest at Jalazun camp - Israeli soldiers shot 20-year-old Palestinian named Ali Mahmoud Safi in the chest with a 0.22 caliber bullet during the protest. The protest reportedly began after locals gathered in opposition to the construction of a wall between the refugee camp and the nearby Jewish-only settlement of Beit El. (Maan)
- Israeli forces arrest 6 Palestinians, 1 Israeli activist - Israeli troops arrested six Palestinians and one Israeli solidarity activist during a rally east of Abu Dis protesting Israeli plans to displace Palestinian Bedouins living in the E1 corridor. (Maan)
- Israeli forces demolish Palestinian structures in Jordan Valley - More than 20 Israeli military jeeps escorted three excavators, who tore down more than 20 tents and steel constructions used as dwellings and agricultural storehouses in Khirbet Makhoul. (Maan)
- Israeli troops detain 3 young Palestinians in northern West Bank - The two, from the village of Salem in northwest Jenin, had fireworks when they were detained. (Maan)
- Nablus area family says Israeli soldiers stole money during home raid - Family members of Wisdam Nassar from the village of Madama said they realized Tuesday that 5,000 shekels ($1,200) and jewelry worth 12,000 shekels ($3,000) were gone after Israeli forces raided the home. (Maan)
- Israeli army officer decries jailing of soldier who reported rape - Some two weeks ago, a female soldier who had reported being raped and then failed to return from sick leave to her base had been sentenced to 10 days in military prison. (Haaretz+)
- UN coordinator enters Gaza as Qatari aid official leaves (through Israel) - The head of a Qatari committee tasked with Gaza reconstruction, Muhammad al-Ammadi, left Gaza to Ramallah after inaugurating a billion-dollar project which Qatar previously announced during a donors conference held in Cairo. (Maan)
- More women and Arabs, fewer Orthodox in next Knesset - More than one-third of lawmakers will be new to Knesset, according to Israel Democracy Institute analysis on composition of 20th parliament. (Haaretz+)
- The Joint Arab List: Seven new MKs, two women and a lot of hope - Newly formed Joint Arab List becomes third largest party in the Knesset after elections; party members promise to take care of important issues in Arab sector and strengthen Palestinian identity. (Ynet)
- Joint List furious at Netanyahu: "He incited against an entire population" - Joint List Chairman Ayman Odeh said that the vote of the Arab population is a " positive national referendum for the party and it’s continuation". However, Oudeh warned that “Netanyahu's return will lead to another deterioration in all the (conflict) issues." (Maariv)
- Leftist Tel Aviv mourns Netanyahu victory - The devastation among the left, seemingly out of touch with the rest of the country, was exacerbated by the fact that Netanyahu’s charm appeared to be wearing off. (Haaretz+)
- More than 200 thousand 'double envelope' votes could sway election results - Votes submitted by IDF soldiers, hospital patients and overseas diplomats will begin being counted Wednesday night, known as 'double envelope' votes, and have the ability to change the election results - as they have done historically. (Ynet)
- Egypt firm to purchase $1.2 billion of gas from Israel's Tamar field - Dolphinus Holdings has signed a seven-year deal. (Agencies, Haaretz)
- 1,200 Jews attend aliyah mega event in NY - Event hosted by Nefesh B’Nefesh aims to help potential new immigrants to Israel make informed choices by participating in seminars and workshops and meeting with professionals from a variety of aliyah-related fields. (Ynet)
- US court: Seattle can ban anti-Israel bus ads - 9th Circuit Court of Appeals sides with county officials who prohibited advertisements fearing vandalism and violence. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Jon Voight: Obama doesn’t love Israel - In an urgent message to the Jewish state, Hollywood actor says US president's 'whole agenda is to control Israel. In this way, he can be friends with all of Israel’s enemies.' (Ynet)
- Argentines pay tribute to victims of 1992 attack on Israeli embassy - Survivors and family members decry failure to bring perpetrators to justice. "There are no perfect crimes and we believe that there is interest and political will to carry this case forward so that things can be clarified," says father of victim. (Agencies, Israel Hayom)
- Gunmen storm Tunisian museum, kill 17 foreign tourists - Two Tunisians and tourists from Japan, Italy, Germany, Poland and Spain were among the dead in the afternoon assault on the Bardo museum in central Tunis in one of the worst attacks in a country that had largely escaped the 'Arab Spring' turmoil. (Agencies, Ynet)
- Egypt sentences 22 Morsi supporters to death -
- An Egyptian court Wednesday sentenced 22 supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi to death for an attack on a police station on day that army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi dismissed then-President Mohammed Morsi, killing one officer. (Maan)
Commentary/Analysis:
**Netanyahu won, but he lost his image as national leader (Uri
Misgav, Haaretz+) What the prime minister lost in his successful bid to survive, and what his
rival won.
Israel is a nation divided, and we cannot blame the voters (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) Forming the next government will mean compromise on all sides, and a decision about the direction of the country.
Netanyahu revealed his true face - and voters loved it (Aluf Benn, Haaretz+) It was Netanyahu’s last-minute return to his anti-Arab, pro-settlement roots that boosted him back into power.
The failure of hubris and hatred (Dr. Gabi Avital, Israel Hayom) The Left's attempt to portray right-wing voters as ridiculous, ignorant and boorish has backfired.
Seven stages of grief: Waking up to a nationalist Netanyahu government (Don Futterman, Haaretz+) A month ago we thought the left stood no chance, and then, as the last polls flattered us, a revolution almost seemed possible. Alas, the higher we climb, the harder we fall.
Israelis chose security over democracy (Carlo Strenger, Haaretz+) By glossing over the electorate’s existential fears, the center-left did not offer Israeli voters a viable alternative to Netanyahu.
It's the dawn of an old day (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth/Ynet) On his way to victory, Netanyahu didn't stop at anything, including burning all bridges to US President Barack Obama, confronting almost every possible sector and renouncing his promise of two states for two people.
With Netanyahu's reelection, the peace process is over and the pressure process must begin (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) If Israelis have the right to vote for permanent occupation, we in the Diaspora have the right to resist it.
The people are not stupid (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) The people are sovereign and do not appreciate it when others try making their decisions.
Netanyahu will make Israel the Middle East’s next failed state (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) The country is galloping toward an anti-democratic binational future saturated with hatred and racism.
Israelis went to bed hoping for change, and woke up with King Bibi again (Tal Niv, Haaretz) No turnaround is possible in Israeli politics because there’s no longer anyone to be turned around. The people have accepted the corrosive pessimism of Netanyahu.
Netanyahu’s victory proves security is the issue on Election Day (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) After four years of turmoil in the Arab world, with collapsing states and deranged terror groups within spitting distance of Israel’s borders, Israelis are concerned.
Israel's left is living in a bubble (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) Elections results reveal the naked truth: Leftists know very little about life outside Tel Aviv, the academia and the media.
Netanyahu’s win: A resounding loss for Israel’s security (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) In his desperate and successful bid to keep his post, the panic-stricken prime minister has left the security establishment with a whole slew of dangers.
Next government's plate already full (Shlomo Cesana, Israel Hayom) It may take weeks until the next government is inducted, but it already has several urgent issues it has to address. Preventing a bad deal with Iran, resolving the housing crisis, and devising a state budget are among future coalition's top priorities.
The dybbuk of Gaza was the secret ingredient of Netanyahu’s triumph (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) He summoned the ill winds of summer 2014 just in time to sweep him back to power.
The expectation that the public will embrace the ideology of the left is stupid (Michal Aharoni, Maariv) There is currently no actor that can connect all the leftists, so there is no point in dreaming right now about a state with a left-wing leadership. One can only expect more tolerant and less hateful leadership.
Joint List given clear mandate to speak on behalf of all Israeli Arabs (Jack Khoury, Haaretz+) The main challenge for Joint List’s constituent parties will be to maintain the unity of the alliance.
Time for introspection (Uri Heitner, Israel Hayom) Netanyahu may be tempted to rest on his laurels for defying the polls, but he must not bask in his electoral glory, despite his magician-like performance.
After Netanyahu won, will Obama concede he lost? (Seth Lipsky, Haaretz+) It's hard to imagine a more stinging rebuke than Israel's voters just delivered to the U.S. president, who so overtly undermined Netanyahu during the election campaign.
Will Meretz survive? (Yossi Sarid, Haaretz+) For years Meretz searched its storehouses for the currency that is passed from the trader to the voter, it searched without finding hatred and fear, which are big sellers these days.
The struggle to preserve Israel's democracy is just beginning (Haaretz Editorial) Despite the hardline right's clear victory, the democratic part of the public must not plunge into gloom and depression. This is an emergency.
Avigdor Lieberman gets the stinging slap he deserved (Gidi Weitz, Haaretz+) The voters who once catapulted the Yisrael Beiteinu leader to the top finally realized that he had been exploiting them, for years, for the sake of his own aggrandizement.
Netanyahu’s doomsday weapon leaves Israel bleeding and riven (Uzi Baram, Haaretz+) Twenty percent of Israel's citizens were depicted as illegitimate, as a force from whom the right needs to be saved.
If most Israelis are in favor of good things, why do so few get accomplished? (Sami Peretz, Haaretz+) The destructive dynamics of Israeli politics gives incentives to politicians to make unfulfillable promises.
Israel is a nation divided, and we cannot blame the voters (Shimon Shiffer, Yedioth/Ynet) Forming the next government will mean compromise on all sides, and a decision about the direction of the country.
Netanyahu revealed his true face - and voters loved it (Aluf Benn, Haaretz+) It was Netanyahu’s last-minute return to his anti-Arab, pro-settlement roots that boosted him back into power.
The failure of hubris and hatred (Dr. Gabi Avital, Israel Hayom) The Left's attempt to portray right-wing voters as ridiculous, ignorant and boorish has backfired.
Seven stages of grief: Waking up to a nationalist Netanyahu government (Don Futterman, Haaretz+) A month ago we thought the left stood no chance, and then, as the last polls flattered us, a revolution almost seemed possible. Alas, the higher we climb, the harder we fall.
Israelis chose security over democracy (Carlo Strenger, Haaretz+) By glossing over the electorate’s existential fears, the center-left did not offer Israeli voters a viable alternative to Netanyahu.
It's the dawn of an old day (Sima Kadmon, Yedioth/Ynet) On his way to victory, Netanyahu didn't stop at anything, including burning all bridges to US President Barack Obama, confronting almost every possible sector and renouncing his promise of two states for two people.
With Netanyahu's reelection, the peace process is over and the pressure process must begin (Peter Beinart, Haaretz+) If Israelis have the right to vote for permanent occupation, we in the Diaspora have the right to resist it.
The people are not stupid (Boaz Bismuth, Israel Hayom) The people are sovereign and do not appreciate it when others try making their decisions.
Netanyahu will make Israel the Middle East’s next failed state (Ravit Hecht, Haaretz+) The country is galloping toward an anti-democratic binational future saturated with hatred and racism.
Israelis went to bed hoping for change, and woke up with King Bibi again (Tal Niv, Haaretz) No turnaround is possible in Israeli politics because there’s no longer anyone to be turned around. The people have accepted the corrosive pessimism of Netanyahu.
Netanyahu’s victory proves security is the issue on Election Day (Amos Harel, Haaretz+) After four years of turmoil in the Arab world, with collapsing states and deranged terror groups within spitting distance of Israel’s borders, Israelis are concerned.
Israel's left is living in a bubble (Eitan Haber, Yedioth/Ynet) Elections results reveal the naked truth: Leftists know very little about life outside Tel Aviv, the academia and the media.
Netanyahu’s win: A resounding loss for Israel’s security (Amir Oren, Haaretz+) In his desperate and successful bid to keep his post, the panic-stricken prime minister has left the security establishment with a whole slew of dangers.
Next government's plate already full (Shlomo Cesana, Israel Hayom) It may take weeks until the next government is inducted, but it already has several urgent issues it has to address. Preventing a bad deal with Iran, resolving the housing crisis, and devising a state budget are among future coalition's top priorities.
The dybbuk of Gaza was the secret ingredient of Netanyahu’s triumph (Chemi Shalev, Haaretz+) He summoned the ill winds of summer 2014 just in time to sweep him back to power.
The expectation that the public will embrace the ideology of the left is stupid (Michal Aharoni, Maariv) There is currently no actor that can connect all the leftists, so there is no point in dreaming right now about a state with a left-wing leadership. One can only expect more tolerant and less hateful leadership.
Joint List given clear mandate to speak on behalf of all Israeli Arabs (Jack Khoury, Haaretz+) The main challenge for Joint List’s constituent parties will be to maintain the unity of the alliance.
Time for introspection (Uri Heitner, Israel Hayom) Netanyahu may be tempted to rest on his laurels for defying the polls, but he must not bask in his electoral glory, despite his magician-like performance.
After Netanyahu won, will Obama concede he lost? (Seth Lipsky, Haaretz+) It's hard to imagine a more stinging rebuke than Israel's voters just delivered to the U.S. president, who so overtly undermined Netanyahu during the election campaign.
Will Meretz survive? (Yossi Sarid, Haaretz+) For years Meretz searched its storehouses for the currency that is passed from the trader to the voter, it searched without finding hatred and fear, which are big sellers these days.
The struggle to preserve Israel's democracy is just beginning (Haaretz Editorial) Despite the hardline right's clear victory, the democratic part of the public must not plunge into gloom and depression. This is an emergency.
Avigdor Lieberman gets the stinging slap he deserved (Gidi Weitz, Haaretz+) The voters who once catapulted the Yisrael Beiteinu leader to the top finally realized that he had been exploiting them, for years, for the sake of his own aggrandizement.
Netanyahu’s doomsday weapon leaves Israel bleeding and riven (Uzi Baram, Haaretz+) Twenty percent of Israel's citizens were depicted as illegitimate, as a force from whom the right needs to be saved.
If most Israelis are in favor of good things, why do so few get accomplished? (Sami Peretz, Haaretz+) The destructive dynamics of Israeli politics gives incentives to politicians to make unfulfillable promises.
Prepared for APN by Orly Halpern, independent freelance journalist based in Jerusalem.