Israel’s governing Kadima party held a leadership ballot in September 2008, to find a replacement for then Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, who was facing corruption charges. Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni defeated transportation minister Shaul Mofaz in a close race to become Kadima’s new leader. Livni was supposed to take over as Israel’s prime minister, but was unable to assemble a government. A snap election was called for Feb. 10.

Results from the February ballot placed Kadima in first place with 28 seats in the Knesset, followed by Likud with 27, Israel Our Home with 15, and Labour with 13.

According to Israeli law, the president must ask the party deemed "more capable" of forming a government to do so. On Feb. 20, Israeli president Shimon Peres asked Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu to assemble a new administration.

Netanyahu served as prime minister from June 1996 to July 1999, and resigned from Ariel Sharon’s cabinet—where he held the finance portfolio—after opposing the "Disengagement Plan."

Israel Our Home leader Avigdor Lieberman has said that all Israelis, including Israeli-Arab citizens, should be forced to demonstrate that they are loyal to the Jewish state as a condition for retaining citizenship.

On Mar. 16, Netanyahu announced that a coalition accord between Likud and Israel Our Home has been reached. The terms include the appointment of Lieberman as Israel’s next foreign minister.

Yesterday, European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Javier Solana hinted at possible problems in the continental group’s relations with Israel, saying, "We will be ready to do business as usual, normally with a government in Israel that is prepared to continue talking and working for a two-state solution. If that is not the case, the situation would be different."

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose a law proposed by the Israel Our Home party which makes civil rights conditional upon a declaration of loyalty to the state?

Source: Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 602 adult Israelis, conducted from Mar. 1 to Mar. 3, 2009. Margin of error is 4 per cent.

Conversely, 22 per cent of respondents would prefer a Likud-led government with right-wing parties, and 16 per cent would rather have an administration with Likud, Kadima and Israel Our Home.

On the category of preferred prime minister, 37.6 per cent of respondents pick Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu, while 37.5 per cent select Kadima leader Tzipi Livni.

Kadima held a leadership ballot in September 2008, to find a replacement for then Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert, who was facing corruption charges. Israeli foreign minister Livni defeated transportation minister Shaul Mofaz in a close race to become Kadima’s new leader. She was supposed to take over as Israel’s prime minister, but was unable to assemble a government. A snap election was called for Feb. 10.

Netanyahu served as prime minister from June 1996 to July 1999, and resigned from Ariel Sharon’s cabinet—where he held the finance portfolio—after opposing the "Disengagement Plan."

Results from the February ballot placed Kadima in first place with 28 seats in the Knesset, followed by Likud with 27, the far-right Israel Our Home with 15, and Labour with 13.

According to Israeli law, the president must ask the party deemed "more capable" of forming a government to do so. On Feb. 20, Israeli president Shimon Peres asked Likud leader Netanyahu to assemble a new administration.

Netanyahu accepted the request, saying, "I call on Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni and Labour party chairman Ehud Barak and I say to them, let’s unite to secure the future of the State of Israel. I ask to meet with you first to discuss with you a broad national unity government for the good of the people and the state."

Livni rejected the proposal, saying, "I will not be able to serve as a cover for a lack of direction. I want to lead Israel in a way I believe in".

A government has not yet been formed.

Polling Data

Who would you prefer as prime minister?

Which of these coalitions would you prefer?

Source: Peace Index Project / Tami Steinmetz Center for Peace Research / Evens Program in Mediation and Conflict Resolution of Tel Aviv University
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 600 Israeli adults, conducted from Feb. 14 to Feb. 16, 2009. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.

The Labour party is third with 17 seats, followed by Israel Our Home with 16, and the International Organization of Torah-observant Sephardic Jews (Shas) with 10. Support is lower for Vitality-Together, United Torah Judaism, Jewish Home, and National Union. The Arab parties would secure eight seats.

In March 2006, Israeli voters renewed the Knesset. Kadima, founded by former prime minister Ariel Sharon and led by Ehud Olmert, secured 29 seats in the legislature. Labour, Shas and Gil joined Kadima in a coalition. In October, the Israeli cabinet approved the addition of Israel Our Home to the Olmert-led government.

In May 2008, Israeli police raided the offices of Jerusalem’s city government and seized documents related to Olmert’s tenure as mayor, from 1993 to 2003. In July, Olmert announced that he would not participate in an extraordinary internal ballot for Kadima’s leadership. In September, Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni defeated transportation minister Shaul Mofaz in a close race to become Kadima’s new leader.

Livni was supposed to take over as Israel’s prime minister, but was unable to assemble a government. A snap election will take place on Feb. 10.

Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu served as prime minister from June 1996 to July 1999, and resigned from Sharon’s cabinet—where he held the finance portfolio—after opposing the "Disengagement Plan." Labour leader Ehud Barak—the current defence minister—headed the Israeli government from July 1999 to March 2001.

On Jan. 28, Livni urged supporters of minor parties to back Kadima, saying, "It’s between [Netanyahu] and me. We’re within touching distance. (…) Today there is no such thing as separate ballots: Likud and Shas are one. Environment, pensioners are important things, [but] every vote that is not for Kadima is a vote for Bibi Netanyahu."

Polling Data

Prospective results of a Knesset election
(Results presented in seats)

Source: Teleseker / Maariv
Methodology: Interviews with 600 Israeli adults, conducted on Jan. 29, 2009. Margin of error is 3.5 per cent.

The governing Kadima party is second with 22 seats, followed by Israel Our Home with 16—up three since mid-January—Labour with 13, and the International Organization of Torah-observant Sephardic Jews (Shas) with 10. Support is lower for Vitality-Together, United Torah Judaism, Jewish Home, and National Union. The Arab parties would secure 10 seats.

In March 2006, Israeli voters renewed the Knesset. Kadima, founded by former prime minister Ariel Sharon and led by Ehud Olmert, secured 29 seats in the legislature. Labour, Shas and Gil joined Kadima in a coalition. In October, the Israeli cabinet approved the addition of Israel Our Home to the Olmert-led government.

In May 2008, Israeli police raided the offices of Jerusalem’s city government and seized documents related to Olmert’s tenure as mayor, from 1993 to 2003. In July, Olmert announced that he would not participate in an extraordinary internal ballot for Kadima’s leadership. In September, Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni defeated transportation minister Shaul Mofaz in a close race to become Kadima’s new leader.

Livni was supposed to take over as Israel’s prime minister, but was unable to assemble a government. A snap election will take place on Feb. 10.

Likud leader Netanyahu served as prime minister from June 1996 to July 1999, and resigned from Sharon’s cabinet—where he held the finance portfolio—after opposing the "Disengagement Plan." Labour leader Ehud Barak—the current defence minister—headed the Israeli government from July 1999 to March 2001.

On Jan. 25, Livni warned that electing a right-wing government could strain Israel’s relationship with the United States, who would see it as "a peace refuser" because Likud rejects a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Netanyahu replied to the foreign minister’s comments saying, "Livni is stressed because she knows she will be losing the elections in 16 days, so she’s shooting at all directions and spreading a ridiculous spin."

Polling Data

Prospective results of a Knesset election
(Results presented in seats)

Source: Maagar Mochot / Channel 2
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 529 Israeli adults, conducted on Jan. 27, 2009. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.

Labour and Israel Our Home are tied for third place with 13 seats, followed by the International Organization of Torah-observant Sephardic Jews (Shas) with nine mandates. Support is lower for Vitality-Together, Yahadut Hatorah, Jewish Home, and National Union. The Arab parties would get nine seats.

In March 2006, Israeli voters renewed the Knesset. Kadima, founded by former prime minister Ariel Sharon and led by Ehud Olmert, secured 29 seats in the legislature. Labour, Shas and the Retired People’s Party (Gil) joined Kadima in a coalition. In October, the Israeli cabinet approved the addition of Israel Our Home to the Olmert-led government.

In May 2008, Israeli police raided the offices of Jerusalem’s city government and seized documents related to Olmert’s tenure as mayor, from 1993 to 2003. In July, Olmert announced that he would not participate in an extraordinary internal ballot for Kadima’s leadership. In September, Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni defeated transportation minister Shaul Mofaz in a close race to become Kadima’s new leader.

Livni was supposed to take over as Israel’s prime minister, but was unable to assemble a government. A snap election will take place on Feb. 10.

Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu served as prime minister from June 1996 to July 1999, and resigned from Sharon’s cabinet—where he held the finance portfolio—after opposing the "Disengagement Plan." Labour leader Ehud Barak—the current defence minister—headed the Israeli government from July 1999 to March 2001.

On Jan. 18, Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire to a three-week long military operation in the Gaza Strip. The mission sought to stop the launching of Qassam rockets into Israeli territory by Hamas, the Islamic militant and political organization that has been in control of the territory since June 2007. More than 1,300 people died on the Palestinian side and more than 5,000 were wounded. Women and children account for more than a third of the Palestinian fatalities, and almost half of the injuries. The Israeli death toll is tabled at 13 people.

On Jan. 27, Shas chairman Eli Yishai endorsed Netanyahu as his preferred prime minister, declaring, "Netanyahu has learned the lessons from what he did in the Sharon government, in which he hurt the weaker segments of society so badly."

Livni offered an explanation to Yishai’s decision, saying, "I was told that Shas would not be able to back me, because they are angry over the fact that during my tenure as justice minister I insisted on reserving two seats for members of the national religious community in the religious courts."

Polling Data

Prospective results of a Knesset election
(Results presented in seats)

Source: Teleseker / Maariv
Methodology: Interviews with 600 Israeli adults, conducted on Jan. 22, 2009. Margin of error is 3.5 per cent.

Labour is third with 15 mandates, followed by Israel Our Home with 13 seats, and the International Organization of Torah-observant Sephardic Jews (Shas) with 12 mandates. Support is lower for Vitality-Together, Yahadut Hatorah, Jewish Home, National Union, the Green Party and the Retired People’s Party (Gil). The Arab parties would get nine seats.

In March 2006, Israeli voters renewed the Knesset. Kadima, founded by former prime minister Ariel Sharon and led by Ehud Olmert, secured 29 seats in the legislature. Labour, Shas and Gil joined Kadima in a coalition. In October, the Israeli cabinet approved the addition of Israel Our Home to the Olmert-led government.

In May 2008, Israeli police raided the offices of Jerusalem’s city government and seized documents related to Olmert’s tenure as mayor, from 1993 to 2003. In July, Olmert announced that he would not participate in an extraordinary internal ballot for Kadima’s leadership. In September, Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni defeated transportation minister Shaul Mofaz in a close race to become Kadima’s new leader.

Livni was supposed to take over as Israel’s prime minister, but was unable to assemble a government. A snap election will take place on Feb. 10.

Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu served as prime minister from June 1996 to July 1999, and resigned from Sharon’s cabinet—where he held the finance portfolio—after opposing the "Disengagement Plan." Labour leader Ehud Barak—the current defence minister—headed the Israeli government from July 1999 to March 2001.

On Jan. 18, Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire to a three-week long military operation in the Gaza Strip. The mission sought to stop the launching of Qassam rockets into Israeli territory by Hamas, the Islamic militant and political organization that has been in control of the territory since June 2007. More than 1,300 people died on the Palestinian side and more than 5,000 were wounded. Women and children account for more than a third of the Palestinian fatalities, and almost half of the injuries. The Israeli death toll is tabled at 13 people.

On Jan. 20, Israel Our Home leader Avigdor Lieberman said to Israeli Arab legislator Taleb a-Sanaa: "We will take care of you like we take care of every terrorist; we will take care of you just like Hamas took care of you."

Vitality-Together issued a statement, which read: "Lieberman the racist doesn’t stop at a red light. First he tries to prevent Arab representation in the Knesset and now he wants to kill their representatives."

Polling Data

Prospective results of a Knesset election
(Results presented in seats)

Source: Maagar Mochot / Channel 2
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 512 Israeli adults, conducted on Jan. 18, 2008. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.

Labour is third with 17 mandates, followed by Israel Our Home with 14 seats, and the International Organization of Torah-observant Sephardic Jews (Shas) with nine mandates. Support is lower for Vitality-Together, Yahadut Hatorah, Jewish Home, and National Union. The Arab parties would get 10 seats.

In March 2006, Israeli voters renewed the Knesset. Kadima, founded by former prime minister Ariel Sharon and led by Ehud Olmert, secured 29 seats in the legislature. Labour, Shas and the Retired People’s Party (Gil) joined Kadima in a coalition. In October, the Israeli cabinet approved the addition of Israel Our Home to the Olmert-led government.

In May 2008, Israeli police raided the offices of Jerusalem’s city government and seized documents related to Olmert’s tenure as mayor, from 1993 to 2003. In July, Olmert announced that he would not participate in an extraordinary internal ballot for Kadima’s leadership. In September, Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni defeated transportation minister Shaul Mofaz in a close race to become Kadima’s new leader.

Livni was supposed to take over as Israel’s prime minister, but was unable to assemble a government. A snap election will take place on Feb. 10.

Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu served as prime minister from June 1996 to July 1999, and resigned from Sharon’s cabinet—where he held the finance portfolio—after opposing the "Disengagement Plan." Labour leader Ehud Barak—the current defence minister—headed the Israeli government from July 1999 to March 2001.

On Jan. 18, Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire to a three-week long military operation in the Gaza Strip. The mission sought to stop the launching of Qassam rockets into Israeli territory by Hamas, the Islamic militant and political organization that has been in control of the territory since June 2007. More than 1,300 people died on the Palestinian side and more than 5,000 were wounded. Women and children account for more than a third of the Palestinian fatalities, and almost half of the injuries. The Israeli death toll is tabled at 13 people.

Yesterday, Barak claimed victory, declaring, "We achieved a significant boost to our deterrence against Hamas and at the same time boosted our deterrence throughout the entire region. (…) We’re not happy about the destruction in the Gaza Strip and we regret the loss of civilian lives. Hamas determined the battlefield and its operatives were the targets for [Israeli Defence Forces] attacks. Their operations from within densely populated areas, schools, hospitals and mosques endangered the residents of Gaza."

Polling Data

Prospective results of a Knesset election
(Results presented in seats)

Source: Teleseker / Maariv
Methodology: Interviews with 800 Israeli adults, conducted on Jan. 15, 2009. Margin of error is 3.5 per cent.

The governing Kadima is second with 25 seats, followed by Labour with 16 mandates, Israel Our Home with 12 seats, and the International Organization of Torah-observant Sephardic Jews (Shas) with nine mandates. Support is lower for Vitality-Together, Yahadut Hatorah, Jewish Home, National Union and the Green Party. The Arab parties would get eight seats.

In March 2006, Israeli voters renewed the Knesset. Kadima, founded by former prime minister Ariel Sharon and led by Ehud Olmert, secured 29 seats in the legislature. Labour, Shas and the Retired People’s Party (Gil) joined Kadima in a coalition. In October, the Israeli cabinet approved the addition of Israel Our Home to the Olmert-led government.

In May 2008, Israeli police raided the offices of Jerusalem’s city government and seized documents related to Olmert’s tenure as mayor, from 1993 to 2003. In July, Olmert announced that he would not participate in an extraordinary internal ballot for Kadima’s leadership. In September, Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni defeated transportation minister Shaul Mofaz in a close race to become Kadima’s new leader.

Livni was supposed to take over as Israel’s prime minister, but was unable to assemble a government. A snap election will take place on Feb. 10.

Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu served as prime minister from June 1996 to July 1999, and resigned from Sharon’s cabinet—where he held the finance portfolio—after opposing the "Disengagement Plan." Labour leader Ehud Barak—the current defence minister—headed the Israeli government from July 1999 to March 2001.

Yesterday, Netanyahu discussed the inauguration of United States president Barack Obama, saying, "I took away the impression that Barack Obama understood our distress very well as well as the cruelty of the enemies we face. (…) He also understands the dangers that Iranian nuclear armaments would represent."

Polling Data

Prospective results of a Knesset election
(Results presented in seats)

Source: Dialog / Haaretz
Methodology: Interviews with 561 Israeli adults, conducted on Jan. 13, 2009. Margin of error is 5 per cent.

The governing Kadima is second with 21 seats, followed by Labour with 15 mandates, Israel Our Home also with 15 seats, and the International Organization of Torah-observant Sephardic Jews (Shas) with 10 mandates. Support is lower for Yahadut Hatorah, Vitality-Together, Jewish Home, National Union and the Green Party. The Arab parties would get 10 seats.

In March 2006, Israeli voters renewed the Knesset. Kadima, founded by former prime minister Ariel Sharon and led by Ehud Olmert, secured 29 seats in the legislature. Labour, Shas and the Retired People’s Party (Gil) joined Kadima in a coalition. In October, the Israeli cabinet approved the addition of Israel Our Home to the Olmert-led government.

In May 2008, Israeli police raided the offices of Jerusalem’s city government and seized documents related to Olmert’s tenure as mayor, from 1993 to 2003. In July, Olmert announced that he would not participate in an extraordinary internal ballot for Kadima’s leadership. In September, Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni defeated transportation minister Shaul Mofaz in a close race to become Kadima’s new leader.

Livni was supposed to take over as Israel’s prime minister, but was unable to assemble a government. A snap election will take place on Feb. 10.

Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu served as prime minister from June 1996 to July 1999, and resigned from Sharon’s cabinet—where he held the finance portfolio—after opposing the "Disengagement Plan." Labour leader Ehud Barak—the current defence minister—headed the Israeli government from July 1999 to March 2001.

On Jan. 18, Israel declared a unilateral ceasefire to a three-week long military operation in the Gaza Strip. The mission sought to stop the launching of Qassam rockets into Israeli territory by Hamas, the Islamic militant and political organization that has been in control of the territory since June 2007. More than 1,300 people died on the Palestinian side and more than 5,000 were wounded. Women and children account for more than a third of the Palestinian fatalities, and almost half of the injuries. The Israeli death toll is tabled at 13 people.

On Jan. 16, Philip Wilcox—a former senior U.S. diplomat and president of the Foundation of Middle East Peace—stated that the timing of Israel’s offensive in Gaza was related to the upcoming elections, saying, "One of the objectives of Barak, Livni and Olmert, and thus the Kadima-Labour coalition, was to demonstrate they are strong and willing to use force in the face of this Hamas rocket fire."

Polling Data

Prospective results of a Knesset election
(Results presented in seats)

Source: Shvakim Panorama / Israel Radio
Methodology: Interviews with 510 Israeli adults, conducted on Jan. 14, 2009. No margin of error was provided.

The governing Kadima is a close second with 26 seats, followed by Labour with 16 mandates, Israel Our Home with 14 seats, and the International Organization of Torah-observant Sephardic Jews (Shas) with 10 mandates. Support is lower for Vitality-Together, Yahadut Hatorah, Jewish Home, and National Union. The Arab parties would get 10 seats.

In March 2006, Israeli voters renewed the Knesset. Kadima, founded by former prime minister Ariel Sharon and led by Ehud Olmert, secured 29 seats in the legislature. Labour, Shas and the Retired People’s Party (Gil) joined Kadima in a coalition. In October, the Israeli cabinet approved the addition of Israel Our Home to the Olmert-led government.

In May 2008, Israeli police raided the offices of Jerusalem’s city government and seized documents related to Olmert’s tenure as mayor, from 1993 to 2003. In July, Olmert announced that he would not participate in an extraordinary internal ballot for Kadima’s leadership. In September, Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni defeated transportation minister Shaul Mofaz in a close race to become Kadima’s new leader.

Livni was supposed to take over as Israel’s prime minister, but was unable to assemble a government. A snap election will take place on Feb. 10.

Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu served as prime minister from June 1996 to July 1999, and resigned from Sharon’s cabinet—where he held the finance portfolio—after opposing the "Disengagement Plan." Labour leader Ehud Barak—the current defence minister—headed the Israeli government from July 1999 to March 2001.

On Jan. 14, Netanyahu discussed the transition in the United States, saying, "I have no doubt that the terrorists and their patrons—or the terrorist states and their proxies—will continuously challenge the leadership of the United States. But, from my two conversations with president-elect [Barack] Obama, I could see that he understood this threat. He said that he was absolutely committed to making sure that Iran would not acquire nuclear weapons. And I think this was very important. He was also equally adamant about resisting terrorism."

Polling Data

Prospective results of a Knesset election
(Results presented in seats)

Source: Maagar Mochot / Channel 2
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 506 Israeli adults, conducted on Jan. 13, 2008. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.