Israel Matzav

Likud shifts right - only two of top 20 MK's support 'Palestinian state'

The Likud primary results have been announced and Prime Minister Netanyahu cannot be pleased. Forget that Moshe Feiglin finished in the very realistic number 15 slot, and should be in the Knesset. There are only two MK's in the top 20 who favor the creation of a 'Palestinian' reichlet - Netanyahu himself and Carmel Shama Cohen at # 21.

The Likud shifted rightward Monday when it elected a Knesset list made up of fierce opponents of the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will be followed on the list by the same up-and-coming young politicians who were second and third on the Likud list last time, Education Minister Gideon Sa'ar and Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan. The party's top five will be rounded out by ministers Silvan Shalom and Yisrael Katz.

Likud hawk Danny Danon, who was a freshman MK in the current Knesset surprised many by winning the sixth slot, followed by Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, Vice Premier Moshe Ya'alon, coalition chairman Ze'ev Elkin, MK Yariv Levin, Public Diplomacy Minister Yuli Edelstein, and MK Haim Katz, who is considered a political power-broker in Likud.

Four women will be in the Likud's top 20 candidates: MKs Tzipi Hotovely and Miri Regev, Deputy Minister Gila Gamliel, and Culture and Sport Minister Limor Livnat. Realistic slots on the list also went to Likud activist Moshe Feiglin, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz, former minister Tzachi Hanegbi, and Netanyahu's former aide Ophir Akunis.

The only Likud candidate in the top 20 [other than Netanyahu himself. CiJ] who supports the creation of a Palestinian State is Carmel Shama Hacohen who is 20th.

Notably absent from the list will be Minister-without-portfolio Bennie Begin, who narrowly missed a realistic slot, Home Front Defense Minister Avi Dichter, Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor, and Minister-without-portfolio Michael Eitan.

Here are the full results (Netanyahu gets the #1 slot automatically).

2. 47,777 Sa’ar
3. 44,875 Erdan
4. 41,957 Shalom
5. 41,662 Y. Katz
6. 36,881 Danon
7. 35,508 Rivlin
8. 34,458 Ya’alon
9. 31,060 Elkin
10. 29,381 Levin
11. 29,138 Edelstein
12. 29,035 H. Katz
13. 28,133 Hotovely
14. 27,999 Regev
15. 26,472 Feiglin
16. 26,109 Shtinetz
17. 23,561 Hanegbi
18. 23,180 Livnat
19. 22,898 Akunis
20. 21,843 Gamliel
21. 21,830 Shama
22. 21,600 Begin
23. 21,500 Sheetrit
24. 21,455 Dichter
25. 20,079 Ness
26. 15,679 Bibi [Yigal Bibi]
27. 14,141 Pinyan
28. 14,080 Barak
29. 14,057 Meridor
30. 12,858 Kara
31. 11,872 Eitan
32. 11,148 Avital
33. 6,605 Negosa
34. 6,004 Shoval
35. 5,730 Ataf
36. 4,324 Admaso
37. 3,644 Koren
38. 3,617 Eiezer

Hmmm.

Feiglin has a lot more to be proud of than his own finish. He is also largely responsible for the shift to the Right. He has recruited thousands of Likud members (including yours truly).

And yes, there were many more candidates.

Labels: Binyamin Netanyahu, Likud party, Moshe Feiglin, Palestinian state

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:27 AM