tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065080297476076227.post6805524661301739608..comments2024-02-02T08:20:16.068-08:00Comments on Holger Awakens: Israel elections: Benjamin Netanyahu wins narrow victoryHolger Awakenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14728123335596054395noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065080297476076227.post-66124908420699365142013-01-23T21:23:08.814-08:002013-01-23T21:23:08.814-08:00Perhaps but it was made up of members from other p...Perhaps but it was made up of members from other parties. That's why their platform rang hollow. Yesh Atid has the capability to be different. In Israel it's either Labour or Likud that dominate, and their respective coalitions. Much like Republucans and Democrats in America. Without the coalitions. Yesh Atid has altered the playing field with their strong centrist showing. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. Maybe they'll change the face of Israeli politics or fall through the same old political cracks. I know one thing. If Bibi doesn't take care of the middle class they'll vote him out......early if they have to. When you got disabled veterans self-immolating because their pension cannot keep up with the price gouging speculators play with, you're going to have social turmoil. <br /><br />The politicians in the Knesset better get their act together. Turning a blind eye to corruption and land speculation will at the least cost them their jobs. Stressed out soldiers who fall behind on their mortgage because of unreasonable price hikes are dangerous individuals. There's no telling what they could do. A junior officers coup should not be that surprising. As soldiers our loyalty lies with Israel. Not Bibi, Livni, Barak or Peres. <br /><br />On the surface Israel looks fine, but our society is economically stressed and buckling at the seams. We can handle war, suicide bombings and other threats. But the shameful treatment of disabled veterans and holocaust survivors who have no money for heat in the winter or for groceries is too much to handle. All we hear are empty promises. Perhaps a changing of the guard is in order. <br /><br />David BloomenthalAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065080297476076227.post-56807672661667481752013-01-23T20:47:18.570-08:002013-01-23T20:47:18.570-08:00Yesh Atid reminds me very much like the old party ...Yesh Atid reminds me very much like the old party formed by Yigael Yadin: <a href="http://www.knesset.gov.il/faction/eng/FactionPage_eng.asp?PG=47" rel="nofollow">Democratic Movement for Change</a>.<br /><br />It came onto the political scene with much fanfare. Made a lot of noise. Got many people excited. Then went into the trash heap. I fear that Yesh Atid might go the same way.Findalishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02881549378886491540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065080297476076227.post-56007194625020619552013-01-23T17:57:53.994-08:002013-01-23T17:57:53.994-08:00Yeah try getting that past the powerful religious ...Yeah try getting that past the powerful religious bloc in the Knesset who have Bibi's blessing. He used to be much more pragmatic in the 90's. Now he's "religious" all of a sudden. <br /><br />You're telling me. They get on everybody's nerves. My childhood friend is a Policewoman. When she tried to ask some questions about a case of burglaries the Hassidic refused to talk to her because she is a woman. Talk about obstruction of justice. <br /><br />Oh what a great day it would be if they were given that ultimatum. Arab Israelis work more for Israel than Ultra-Orthodox Hassidic Jews do. A delegation of them even met with Mahmoud Ahmedinejad. <br /><br />Of course they'll return to such rhetoric. But give Hamas a few months to replenish their arsenal and Jew hatred and the left become irrelevant again. <br /><br />That's why I voted for Yesh Atid. Finally a party strong on defense, pro-middle class and welfare reform(Getting the Hassidic off their asses and into work). Finally a strong Centrist Party. No extreme right protecting the interests of land speculators and Hassidic draft dodgers, and no extreme left looking to welcome Khaled Mashaal with open arms in Jerusalem. <br /><br />But this is Israel. I have to be realistic. <br /><br />David Bloomenthal Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065080297476076227.post-68588940967953315082013-01-23T16:42:14.538-08:002013-01-23T16:42:14.538-08:00They serve individually. As a community they fight...They serve individually. As a community they fight tooth and nail to remain on the welfare dole. I've seen it. They think they have some sort of pass on having to do their share of the lifting. <br /><br />As for the left? Their "darft dodging" won't fly with Israelis in general. I live in Tel Aviv. Even in the Gay Village you'll hear people say that Hamas and other terror groups pose an existential threat to Israel and that compulsory military service to keep the security edge is a must. <br /><br />Those University professors saw all their arguments crumble when Hamas targeted Tel Aviv. When push comes to shove, Israelis support security over appeasement. <br /><br />As for the Israeli version of the Arab Spring? Well those folks have a good point in protesting Bibi's economic shortcomings. Living costs have sky-rocketed and disabled veterans are being thrown out of their homes by property speculators. Of course you won't see that on the J-Post or Haaretz. <br /><br />I think it's high time ALL Israelis contribute to the security, longevity and prosperity of Israel. And not shirk military duty by hiding behind a religious pretext. <br /><br />David Bloomenthal Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065080297476076227.post-89003366697645024142013-01-23T15:38:23.348-08:002013-01-23T15:38:23.348-08:00Many do David, but there are many of the Ultra-Ort...Many do David, but there are many of the Ultra-Orthodox who do serve and do so with pride. More and more are finding it acceptable to serve.<br /><br />The left has discovered that if they don't serve they are considered "heroes" by their professors in the Universities.<br /><br />If you look at the leaders of Israel's "Arab Spring" you will see that they were draft dodgers. An idea that is smiled upon by academia world-wide but is a dirty idea to general Israeli culture.Findalishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02881549378886491540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065080297476076227.post-16220629091876928102013-01-23T15:27:25.617-08:002013-01-23T15:27:25.617-08:00I thought it was the ultra-orthodox right that ref...I thought it was the ultra-orthodox right that refused to serve in the military, all the while the rest of Israel has to support them economically, socially and militarily. <br /><br />David Bloomenthal. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1065080297476076227.post-46571506156554997152013-01-23T08:27:18.605-08:002013-01-23T08:27:18.605-08:00It was very close for Bibi. The left is gaining a...It was very close for Bibi. The left is gaining and Israel may be going back to a Nanny State. A State in which the left refuses to serve in the military.<br /><br />WTF is happening to the world?Findalishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02881549378886491540noreply@blogger.com