Israel moves rightward

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Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on the brink of a dramatic comeback, after partial results showed he was on course to win a majority in parliament with the far right's help.

With 90.7% of votes from Tuesday's election counted, Mr Netanyahu's bloc is set to win 65 out of 120 seats.
"We are close to a big victory," he told jubilant supporters in Jerusalem.

However, he will be dependent on the support of the ultra-nationalist Religious Zionism party.

Its leaders, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, have gained notoriety for using anti-Arab rhetoric and advocating the deportation of "disloyal" politicians or civilians.

Mr Ben-Gvir was a follower of the late, explicitly racist, ultra-nationalist Meir Kahane, whose organisation was banned in Israel and designated as a terrorist group by the United States. Mr Ben-Gvir himself has been convicted of incitement to racism and supporting a terrorist organisation.

Last month, Mr Ben-Gvir hit the headlines when he was filmed pulling out a gun after being targeted with a stone while visiting the flashpoint Palestinian Sheikh Jarrah district of occupied East Jerusalem, and calling for police to shoot the culprits.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Mr Ben-Gvir promised to "work for all of Israel, even those who hate me".
After exit polls were published on Tuesday night, supporters of Religious Zionism gathered in Sheikh Jarrah, shouting taunts and throwing stones towards Palestinian areas.

Mr Netanyahu, accompanied by his wife Sara, appeared at his Likud party's election night venue at 03:00 local time (01:00 GMT) on Wednesday to thunderous applause.

"We have won a huge vote of confidence from the people of Israel," he told his cheering supporters.

Hours earlier, when the exit polls predicted that Mr Netanyahu's bloc would win 61 or 62 seats, the room had been a scene of celebration as people jumped up and down, waved flags and chanted his nickname, Bibi.

Does one realize that these stones are usually thrown using slingshots? Can't blame the man! Stones are just as dangerous as bullets!

I am not saying that what the man stands for is right. I am saying that I understand how he has become like that and I think the people who write these articles need to spend time living in Israel to see what it is like to be a Jew.

What about what it means to be a Palestinian? Do you ever consider how they feel?

What about what it means to be a Palestinian? Do you ever consider how they feel?

Did you know where the majority of the Palestinians who live there now come from?


One thing I know for sure is never accept what the news tells you and ask those who live there or who have been there, both in Israel and in the surrounding areas.

I'm often afraid to comment on what goes on in Israel with the way they treat the Palestinians because I've been labelled as an anti-semite by some just for expressing sympathy for a group that is being oppressed while the world ignores their plight (much like the Uyghurs in Xinjiang).

But on the other hand I kinda understand where the Zionists are coming from. After surviving the Holocaust they were glad to be given their historic homeland back and will do anything to keep it protected. In a way it's like they must have a kind of collective PTSD.

Don't be afraid to comment. All is fine.

I think the very best perspective is to look neutrally so one can gather info from both sides.

All is good. (Hope I don't come over as too strong when I give the other perspective. The thing is none of us wants people killed on any side but the situation is beyond us to be honest).

You're right, it really is sad but beyond anything we can really do. This is why it's foolish for Western powers to try and intervene in the affairs of other countries.

In the US our founding fathers warned us about getting entangled in foreign affairs. But nobody listened in the long run and despite this being the most peaceful past century in human history things are getting worse in other ways around the world and sooner or later the SWHTF.

UK has as well. Not saying all was neccessarily bad, but some deals between countries should never have happened.

Out of interest, the USA is the ONLY country I know of which has military bases right around the world.

Something else I will mention is that there is Christianity and there is following Christ, and the first can mean anything, and some of what is called "Christianity" today has nothing whatsoever to do with God or the Bible. I am telling you this so you understand that not everything labelled as "Christian" is what it seems.

Apologize for ammending posts as is a habbit because I try to shorten things as I can write too much. Haha!

I can see you are exploring many avenues and do not make decisions without putting thought into it. This is rare these days I feel. I pray you will find the right path for you.