Shinui

[Talmid HaYarok]

Well as some of you Israel watchers may know, the party Shinui grew heavily in the last Israeli election. How do you think this will effect Messianic Jews in Israel?

I'm hoping that they'll push for more religious freedom and possibly even remove all laws that discriminate against Jews who hold non-Orthodox beliefs such as the one that prohibits Messianic Jews from immigrating in.

Anyways it marks a very interesting shift in the religious politics of Israel.

[Ruhama]

I only hope that they will prove to be a good party in power and the rightwingers won't swing back and bite them in the next election. I would love to see changes like this.

[Talmid HaYarok]

and the new coalition government is in....

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=265900&displayTypeCd=1&sideCd=1&contrassID=2

So far the new coalition government consists of Likud, Shinui, and the National Religious Party. It could yet include Labor, but I doubt it.

This is definitely a major upset in Israeli politics and I like it so far. :)

[Talmid HaYarok]

My primer for those of you who don't know anything about Israeli political parties. ;)

Here is a breakdown of who is coming and going in Israeli politics:


Likud: Will talk peace with Palestinians only after a cessation of violence.
Leader, Ariel Sharon.
37 seats (+18)

National Union: No Palestinian state.
Leader, Avigdor Lieberman
7 (No change)

Yisrael b'Aliyah: Palestinian state only if democratic.
Leader, Natan Sharansky
2 (-4)

Shas: Ultra-Orthodox and traditional Sephardim
Leader, Eli Yishai
11 (-6)

United Torah Judaism: Ultra-Orthodox Ashkenazim
Leader, Yaakov Litzman
5 (no change)

National Religious Party Religious: Zionism, emphasizing army service and the Land of Israel.
Leader, Effi Eitam
5 (No change)

Labor: Resume talks on Palestinian statehood before end to violence.
Leader, Amram Mitzna
19 (-7)

Meretz: Withdrawal to 1967 borders
Leader, Yossi Sarid
6 (-4)

Shinui: Separation of religion and state.
Leader, Yosef Lapid
15 (+9)

Am Ehad: One Nation Workers' rights
Leader, Amir Peretz
4 (+2)

United Arab List-Ra'am: Dominated by Islamic movement, supports Palestinian state
Leader, Abdulmalek Dehamshe
2 (-3)

Hadash - Ta'al (Formerly Communist party): supports Palestinian state
Leader, Mohammad Barakeh
4 (no change)

Balad: Cultural autonomy for Arabs, supports Palestinian state
Leader, Azmi Bishara
3 (+2)

[Talmid HaYarok]

Final cabinet set (http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasen/spages/267182.html)

[Pray4Isrel]

Thanks for the run-down, there were a few that I was unfamiliar with. That's great info to have.

[Talmid HaYarok]

With National Union in the mix its going to be interesting to see how the peace process continues.

I think Sharon will continue to push it though so that he can show even National Union as being more effective than Labor. He'll do his best and I expect succeed in an effort to discredit Mitzna and Arafat.