In Israel’s Elections, a Star Is Born

After a surprise showing, will centrist Yair Lapid put his new clout behind peace?

By Ralph Seliger

On January 22, Israel's voters surprised Prime Minister Netanyahu and themselves by returning a closely divided Knesset (Israel’s parliament). The balance teetered the day after the election until the final tally of absentee ballots, primarily from soldiers, pushed the needle slightly to the [RETURN TO ARTICLE]

  • Reader Comments

    How do we spread the message that israel needs a resolution (2-state solution) of her conflict with the Palestinians in order to avert renewed conflict, effectively respond to her economic, environmental, and other domestic problems, and remain both a Jewish and a democratic state? Time is running out, and if a resolution is not soon reached, there will be a very bleak future for Israel, the palestinians, the US, and indeed, the world.

    Posted by Richard Schwartz on Feb 4, 2013 at 9:58 AM

    The only ‘left’ movement / party is one that struggles (no matter how long or hard) to achieve a one secular Democratic state and equal rights for all it’s citizens. The rest is a purposeful sick game of injustice for all involved There are stars that are fighting the good fight, but I don’t see them in this article…

    Posted by Hassan Saba on Feb 4, 2013 at 2:04 PM

    “One secular Democratic state” sounds like a noble goal, but not if it is a slogan negating the right of the Jewish people to national self-determination and self-defense.  This is a right that the UN promulgated in the 1947 partition plan, which also needs to be implemented on behalf of the Arab people of Palestine in a new state alongside Israel.  Hassan Saba needs to consider if there is a single country in the entire region, from North Africa to Pakistan, that meets this criterion.

    Posted by Ralph G. Seliger on Feb 5, 2013 at 9:02 AM