Schlaglicht Israel Nr. 19/12 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 15. – 29. Oktober 2012 1. Wahlbündnis von Likud und Yisrael Beitenu Überraschend haben Premierminister Benjamin Netanyahu und Außenminister Avigdor Lieberman ein Bündnis ihrer Parteien Likud und Yisrael Beitenu für die vorgezogenen Parlamentswahlen am 22.01.2013 angekündigt. Obwohl dieser Schritt zunächst von einigen Likud-Anhängern kritisiert wurde, stimmten Parteimitglieder schließlich mit großer Mehrheit für das Wahlbündnis. Im Gegensatz zum national-liberalen Likud, der sowohl religiöse als auch säkulare Anhänger hat, gilt Yisrael Beitenu als säkulare rechts-nationalistische Partei, die vor allem von russischen Immigranten gewählt wird. Laut Medienumfragen würde das Bündnis der bei­den Parteien eindeutig die stärkste Fraktion in der Knesset stellen. Unklar blieb allerdings, ob Likud und Yisrael Beitenu mit einer Liste mehr Stimmen erhalten würden als getrennt. To powerfully lead “On Thursday night something important happened in Israel: The right wing was not unified, nor was Lieberman made legitimate. Instead, the two bosses of Israeli politics said that all they wanted was more power.[…] They want this power for themselves; to direct it against civil rights, against small parties represent­ing ideas and niche sectors; against minorities and against governmental checks and balances. All these things obstruct Netanyahu and Lieberman, and now they want more power to move them aside.” Gideon Levy, HAA 28.10.12 Meridors unexpected moment “It was easy to see what was in it for Liberman. At a stroke, he becomes Netanyahu’s heir apparent.[…] It’s been far harder to understand why Netanyahu thinks the new alliance is a good idea. For a start, in strengthening the politically skilled Liberman, he weakens himself. Second, he infuriates his own Likud’s most senior ministers— privately incandes­cent that Liberman has been catapulted above them in the leadership hierarchy.[…] There are more negatives for Netanyahu too, but that’s enough to make the point, I think. And set against that big downside is the supposed big bene­fit: The alliance will guarantee that“Likud Beytenu” […] will form the next government. Actually, it does nothing of the kind. Indeed, it might conceivably do the opposite.” David Horovitz, TOI 28.10.12 Pressure overcame ego "The merger between Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu[…] will make the joint party the strongest and most significant political force in Israel.[…] The Right realized that only a dramatic move could unite the bloc and weaken the small parties.[…] The merger between Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu has created an almost extreme-rightist party. Those who were distressed by the anti-democratic winds that blew in Netanyahu's coalition should shake with fear.[…] And who will fight for the rule of law and democracy now that such a powerful force is running the politi­cal game? This fear may awaken the Center-Right and those who fear for Israel's democratic charac­ter." Attila Somfalvi, JED 26.10.12 A good day for religious liberals "Liberman’s constituents are different from the Likud’s in that they’re heavily Russian-speaking and tend to be more secular. Many are not halachically Jewish. For this reason, they tend to be very'left­wing' on social and religious issues.[…] Issues like civil marriage, easing conversion standards,[…] etc., would enjoy significant sympathy and support 1