Election in Israel

Israel's Livni woos female voters ahead of poll Reuters UK — With Israeli pollsters predicting a close national election on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni is wooing female swing voters whose support could help her clinch victory. Campaign ads for Livni's centrist Kadima party splashed over billboards and across websites promise a "different kind of prime minister" and urge Israelis to elect the country's first woman prime minister in three decades. Livni, 50, an ex-Mossad agent, had avoided playing the "gender card" for fear of appearing weak in a male-dominated society where frequent wars with Arab neighbours tend to make generals and other military figures more popular as politicians. click to read complete article

Many Candidates, No Leaders IPS Along the ironic lines of "Something Funny Happened on the Way to the Forum", the old Broadway musical about democracy in ancient times, something "funny" happened to Israelis on their way to the polling stations. They went to war. As a result, something weird is happening to Israeli democracy as the country goes to the polls on Tuesday. Israeli elections used to be known for their fiery nature, the explosive debates, the contrasting ideological credos of the competing parties, the ruckus of left-right rivalry, the no-holds-barred traditional confrontation between religious and secular. And beyond it all, existential questions which have challenged Israeli democracy since its inception 60 years ago: how to live with the Palestinians and how to make peace while guaranteeing the security of the state. click to read complete article

Don't Mention The Economy Forbes With Netanyahu poised to win a tight election race, the prospect of recession fails to make headway. With Israelis only one day away from elections that could see the return of right-wing Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu as prime minister, there was little sign on Monday that the economic pressures facing the country would make much headway in a debate dominated by security issues. But the economy will be a potent issue later this year, with Israel's economic growth set to plummet after posting solid 4.0% to 5.0% annual expansion over the past few years. Nomura International economist Serhan Cevik expects Israel to shrink by 1.5% this year, as the country's dependence on exports like high-tech goods and diamonds gets squeezed by slowing demand in the U.S. and Asia. click to read complete article