Benjamin Netanyahu wiped out top challenger Silvan Shalom, 47%-32%, according to exit polls from today's Likud Primaries. Before the vote, the two candidates were nearly deadlocked in the polls with Bibi ahead by a scant percentage point. Apparently, those numbers were way off as reflected by the projected 15 point margin of victory for the former Prime Minister.
Coming in a strong third was MZ favorite Moshe Feiglin, who will finish with at least 15% of the vote. Feiglin, whose views on the Land of Israel are much the same as National Union chief Benny Elon, hopes his strong showing will help shift the floundering, left-leaning Likud Party back to the right again.
One possible reason for Bibi's huge victory is that the news of Yassir Sharon's stroke brought more voters over to the "devil that they know" out of fear of possible changes in the air. Bibi is referred to by both Feiglin and Shalom as the "battered wife syndrome" candidate, meaning he is voted for by abused members who were betrayed in the past by his broken promises much the way a battered spouse returns over and over to the abusive spouse despite the repeated beatings.
Shalom was considered the most "Sharon-like" candidate, who represented the liberal wing of the Likud Party, while Faiglin represents the Right and Bibi vacillates between the two.
Stay tuned for more updates as they come in.
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3 comments:
Shalom, MZ-
I'm a proud Feiglinist myself; I believe our time will come!
I don't think Bibi can do much for Israel, especially with regard to security. It will take someone more spiny and less concerned with adulation from without to stand for Israel as she must be represented.
That said, I think Bibi has reasonable economic ideas, and I wouldn't be angry to see him as PART of a rightish govt - but I don't think anything will improve until the leadership is constituted of people with some ethical fiber to them.
-sigh-
Am Yisrael Chai!
6PO
6 Points,
Let's hope the right people come to leadership before the wrong people give all the Land away.
Taz, in time the right men will come to power, as Israel's "religious right" is quadrupling the birthrate of the left. The race is on to see if the nationalist babies grow up fast enough to vote out the concessionists before they've given away the whole enchalada.
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