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iandhr

(6,852 posts)
Wed Jan 23, 2013, 01:03 AM Jan 2013

Charismatic Leader Helps Israel Turn Toward the Center

Source: NY TIMES

RAMAT GAN, Israel — With his good looks and suave manner, Yair Lapid had long been a celebrity and symbol of success here, building a strong following as a prominent journalist and the host of a popular television show.

But by the time the polls closed here Tuesday, it was clear that Mr. Lapid had reinvented himself as one of the most powerful political leaders in the country, leveraging his celebrity and a populist message that resonated.

Mr. Lapid, 49, was the surprise of the Israeli election. His party placed second, when polls said it would come in fourth. He had predicted that he would do better with his outreach to the middle class and his emphasis on social justice and the rising inequalities in society. He was right. His centrist Yesh Atid Party won 19 seats in the 120-seat Parliament, according to preliminary results, positioning Mr. Lapid as the chief power broker in the formation of the next governing coalition.

Mr. Lapid’s stronghold seems to have been the Tel Aviv area, with preliminary results showing he garnered about a quarter of the votes cast here in Ramat Gan and similar suburbs of Israel’s largely secular metropolis

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/23/world/middleeast/yair-lapid-guides-yesh-atid-party-to-success-in-israeli-elections.html?hp

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Charismatic Leader Helps Israel Turn Toward the Center (Original Post) iandhr Jan 2013 OP
This message was self-deleted by its author Tarheel_Dem Jan 2013 #1
I watched a report on the BBC, and he was getting tons of love from his supporters. Tarheel_Dem Jan 2013 #2
Looks like they could have used a Nate Silver. Behind the Aegis Jan 2013 #3
I'm surprised that Nate Silver hasn't gone global or that R. Daneel Olivaw Jan 2013 #7
Well, this seems like moderately good news. Comrade Grumpy Jan 2013 #4
And smells like a moderatly stagnant breath of fresh air! AAO Jan 2013 #6
Sweet mother of God! FleetwoodMac Jan 2013 #5
Israel seems to have their own brand of "teabaggers." Word is that many are getting tired of kelliekat44 Jan 2013 #8
I hope you're right... FleetwoodMac Jan 2013 #9

Response to iandhr (Original post)

Tarheel_Dem

(31,235 posts)
2. I watched a report on the BBC, and he was getting tons of love from his supporters.
Wed Jan 23, 2013, 01:10 AM
Jan 2013

The guy who ran to the right of Netanyahu is scary, and so were the folks who support him. They are hardliners, and surprisingly young. I was hopeful that the younger generations, on both sides of this issue, would try and move closer to each other, instead of further apart. That being said, this is a very encouraging development.

Behind the Aegis

(53,965 posts)
3. Looks like they could have used a Nate Silver.
Wed Jan 23, 2013, 01:42 AM
Jan 2013

People were shitting themselves about this election, though I did see a number of outlier polls that suggested this very thing would happen. Personally, I think it was just wishful thinking from both sides of extremists.

 

R. Daneel Olivaw

(12,606 posts)
7. I'm surprised that Nate Silver hasn't gone global or that
Wed Jan 23, 2013, 12:30 PM
Jan 2013

his services aren't asked for or emulated elsewhere.

FleetwoodMac

(351 posts)
5. Sweet mother of God!
Wed Jan 23, 2013, 06:55 AM
Jan 2013

Was there even anyone out there who saw this coming?
All I heard in the weeks leading to the election was how the Labor Party, and by extension, the left, would continue its downward spiral while the right solidify their ascendency.

But as it is now, with (despite?) Labor coming in third, we're looking at a pretty moderate coalition (Likud 31, Yesh Atid+Labor=34).

This can only be a good thing for everyone except Bibi Netanyahu and Sheldon Adelson.

 

kelliekat44

(7,759 posts)
8. Israel seems to have their own brand of "teabaggers." Word is that many are getting tired of
Wed Jan 23, 2013, 10:02 PM
Jan 2013

supporting the religious right orthodox and do not want to continue to excuse them paying taxes or avoiding military service. (sounds a little familiar.) Give it another 10 years and the youth will be in charge. Change is coming and it won't be stopped...just give it time.

FleetwoodMac

(351 posts)
9. I hope you're right...
Thu Jan 24, 2013, 12:00 AM
Jan 2013

Most still remain unaware how awfully close we came to a shooting match last year between Israel and Iran. I would hate to think how that would've developed.

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