Will Netanyahu return?

Israelis are casting their ballots to choose a new Prime Minister on Tuesday.

Kamna Arora

Israelis are casting their ballots to choose a new Prime Minister today. The result of the race between Binyamin Netanyahu of Likud and Tzipi Livni of Kadima is, in fact, quite evident, as many voters anticipate that the right-wing will conveniently defeat the left-wing. According to the recent polls, former Premier Netanyahu will get enough support to lead his right-wing Likud party to victory and capture his post again. In the 120-seat Knesset, polls suggested that the gap was gradually thinning between “Bibi” and Livni as the former was expected to grab around 25 seats and the latter around 23. Standing on the third position in the poll was Avigdor Lieberman-led Yisrael Beitenu, a far-right party. The polls could translate into a thrashing for Defence Minister Ehud Barak-led Labour that has been kicked out of the third spot. The polls are expected to see Likud, Yisrael Beitenu, and four small rightist-religious parties grabbing, in toto, at least 65 seats, whereas Kadima, Labour and their leftist allies could be able to muster just 55 seats or fewer. Today’s election in Israel will be an interesting, but cautious watch. As per the results of the last four elections, he, who vowed to put an end to the conflict with the Palestinians, became the king. However, this time, the polls suggest that for the first time in decades, Israelis may vote for a PM, who is promising to wage war. With national security, not domestic policy, being the common man’s concern during the elections, the question arises that if Netanyahu returns, will he surprise his critics. Netanyahu emerged on national scenario in 1996 elections. After becoming the PM, he had incensed King Hussein of Jordan by opposing the creation of a Palestinian state. In a letter to Hussein, the hawkish leader had said, “I was chosen to lead Israel because of the bitter dissatisfaction of the Israeli people with the way the peace process was progressing." This fits today’s situation as well. As per analysts, Israel has shifted to the right largely because many Israelis no longer believe further peace agreements could in any time prove to be a serious probability. The recent war in Gaza further gave impetus to Netanyahu and other similar hard-line candidates. In his political career, Netanyahu has insisted on maintaining a robust Israeli state that does not bargain national security. Further, he has tried to draw a link between Hamas and Iran this time, vowing to go all-out for both, and has promised to keep Jerusalem undivided in any peace process. On February 2, he said, “We did not return to Jerusalem after praying for it to be rebuilt for 2,000 years in order to give it up.” Most of the international community view Netanyahu in conflict with the Palestinians and all other Arabs. The recent Gaza war has swung voter concerns away from peace talks, and back to conflict, hence paving the way for the right-leaning bloc led by Netanyahu to return.