By Ruth Eglash, Special for USA TODAY
JERUSALEM - With an array of messages and conflicting views, Israelis
went to the polls Tuesday in an election that exit polls indicated
would give the most parliamentary seats to the party of Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu, giving him a third term as Israel's leader.
"We
are very skeptical that there will be any real changes from this
election because there is no strong or united left-wing block and
everyone is busy attacking each other," commented Ronit Levy, 29, at a
polling station in the heart of Jerusalem.
Her friend, Shir Sasson, 30, however said she felt that might be some surprises.
"It
is obvious that Benjamin Netanyahu will win but I hope there will be
some change and perhaps even some small surprises," she said.
Netanyahu,
63, was expected to win a second four-year term according to the latest
media polls. He had previously served a term as prime minister in the
1990s.
After casting his vote, he told reporters that a flood of
ballots for his list "is good for Israel." The Central Elections
Committee said 32 parties are vying for votes in the election. A party
needs to obtain at least 2% of the total vote to gain a seat in Israel's
parliament, the Knesset.
Israel's three major televisions stations reported Likud emerged as
the largest faction according to exit polls but gains by a centrist
newcomer party raised the possibility that he will be forced to form a
broad coalition to take over the government.
The polls said Likud
and its traditional conservative allies captured 61 or 62 seats in the
120-member parliament. With official results trickling in throughout the
night, it was possible that the two sides could end in deadlock.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Netanyahu said he would
reach across the aisle and try to form a broad-based coalition.
"According
to the exit polls, it is clear that Israel citizens decided that they
want me to continue to serve as prime minister of Israel, and that I
form the widest possible majority (coalition)," he said.
Netanyahu's
centrist opponents have said they would not join his government if he
does not make more of a push for peace with the Palestinians. Netanyahu
says he is ready for peace negotiations but that the Palestinians were
making demands that left nothing to negotiate.
The centrist "Yesh
Atid," party headed by political newcomer Yair Lapid captured as many as
19 seats, well above forecasts. That would position Lapid to become
either opposition leader or seek a major Cabinet post if he decides to
join Netanyahu's governing coalition.
Lapid campaigned on a
platform for an end to the generous subsidies and draft exemptions given
to ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities.
Ma'ayan Elkaslacy, 29
said that newcomer Yair Lapid, a former journalist, was the best chance
to bring about change and a new future for Israel.
"I have a
feeling there will be some changes because of new faces such as Lapid
and (Bayit Hayehudi or Jewish Home party leader) Naftali Bennett," she
said. "I really think these new voices will be very important in the
next Knesset and might even join the government."
At rallies and
in campaign ads, Likud and its ideological ally Yisrael Beiteinu and
other right-wing parties emphasized their strength on security.
Netanyahu launched an airstrike campaign against Hamas terrorists in
November and has supported the construction of security fences that have
nearly eliminated Palestinian suicide bomber attacks.
Polls show
that the majority of Israelis continue to support a two-state solution,
but only if it will bring them a true, lasting peace, a position that
Netanyahu takes.
"The problem is that most Israelis consider the
prospects for success in peace talks to be slim," writes Toby Greene,
director of research at the Britain-Israel Communications and Research
Center, in a political analysis published this week.
"They ask
themselves, 'If we get out of the West Bank will there be peace?' Or
will there be, as Netanyahu warns, the possibility of a 'third Iranian
base' on Israel's borders, after Hezbollah-controlled south Lebanon and
the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip?"
Greene said the Palestinian
Authority's "disinterest" in negotiating with Netanyahu, and unilateral
bid for statehood at the United Nations last November has played into
the hands of those Israelis who argue that there is no Palestinian
partner.
Gerald Steinberg, a political scientist with the BESA
Center for Strategic Studies at Bar-Ilan University, believes that
"Americans and Israelis have the same goal: two states living side by
side in peace. "
But whereas Obama considers Israeli settlements
to be the No. 1 obstacle to peace, Steinberg said, Netanyahu - and many
Israelis - say the real problem is the Palestinians' unwillingness to
acknowledge that Israel has a right to exist.
If Israelis seem
intransigent, Steinberg said, it is because "they live in a different
reality" from the safe, secure life most Americans and Europeans enjoy.
"For
almost 65 years," since Israel's founding, "Israelis have lived with
warfare. The majority do not believe the current Palestinian leadership,
and the hostility that really hasn't change in all those years, that
peace is feasible in the short term," Steinberg said.
Chaim Raphael, 36, a deli owner chose Shaul Mofaz, former chief of the IOsraeli Defense Foprces.
"Security
issues are where we need to put our main resources and they should be
in our first priority," he said referring to the Israelis along the
border who have been pounded by rocket fire from anti-Israel Hamas.
"When you see the suffering of the people living near the border,
solutions in security are what our country needs."
Gamaliel
Sasportas 34, musician from Tel Aviv, voted for Shelli Yechimovich,
leader of the Labor party, "Haavoda," because, "she emphasizes social
problems more than security issues."
Just down the street from a
polling station on one of Jersualem's main thoroughfares, supporters of
various parties continued their campaigns to convince the undecided to
vote for them. Stephanie Benun, 23, from the left-wing Meretz party said
she felt that despite talk of a more right wing, nationalistic
government, there was still a chance that smaller parties could increase
their representation in parliament and influence change.
And
Da'am Workers Party activist Tali Klagesbrun, 31, said she was confident
that her tiny party, which represents both Jews and Arabs, would pass
the threshold and gain a place in the new political order
"All the
other parties out there are only fighting for themselves, Da'am is here
to make real change and fight for workers rights," said the
Jerusalemite.
This time around, Da'am has attempted to rally
support from Jewish voters, as well as Israeli-Arabs, who are not
expected to turn out to vote in high numbers.
Lena Rubin, 44 an artist from Tel Aviv choose D'aam.
"This
party really cares for the poor," she said. "They are not just talking
slogans during elections they work all year round to help the poor."
Eliran Frg'ian 25, a law student, went for former foreign minister and
Netanyahu opponent Tzipi Livni because "I consider her as a realistic
option for real peace process. We gave Benjamin Netanyahu a chance,
which he failed in.
Supporters of Naftali Bennett's ultra-right
wing party were also confident of success. The star of the recent
elections campaign and the only person that polls have indicated has
really challenged Netanyahu's lead, Ovadia Bercechevsky, 23, said the former settler leader would be the big winner this time.
"We
are hopeful there will be some real changes and we think that Bennett
and Lapid can do that, even if it only means a different coalition
formation," commented Jon Franzman, a recent immigrant from Britain.
But
not everyone in Jerusalem was in the election spirit Tuesday. Shuki
Cohen, 62, said he had decided not to vote because "I don't think it
will make any difference."
"There is no party that really speaks
for me, even though I hope that the smaller parties are able to bring
Bibi (Netanyahu) down this time," he said. "There is only one place I
vote for: the lottery, that is the only thing that could really change
my life."
Contributing: Nati Gershovich in Tel Aviv and Michele Chabin in Jerusalem