I think Mitzna is an impossible position. And it's not his fault. Labor so discredited itself by joining and staying in the "unity" government, after going out on a limb at Camp David, that it is not trusted. Nothing he could do would change that.

What needs to happen after next week's election is that the long-awaited formation of a social democratic party, comprised of the left of Labor, Meretz, the small left parties and a good portion of the Arab parties. Then present a clear, united alternative in advance of the next election, which could be within a year.

shinui is not a "left" party, it is a an anti-religous "center" party. Shinui has made clear they are willing to serve in a Sharon government, just not with the religous parties. Labor's losses to Shinui more likely come from Labor's refusal to serve in a Sharon government than their earlier record of doing so. Polls in Israel regularly show the popularity of a "national unity" government. If Ben-Eliezer had been head of the party, Labor would likely be doing better, though still not enough to win.

Every commentary I've seen shows Shiniu (a a democratic, secular, Liberal, Zionist, peace-seeking party) as part of the alliance that would side with Labor over Likud.

Labors losses happened before Mitzna announced that he would not be part of the Likud national government. They fell, initially, because of backing Sharon, and lately, because of dumb tactics around Sharon's debacles. Even Peres notes this-- everyone in Labor recongizes that they screwed up in joining Sharon's national gov't, it's just a matter of too little too late.

"Polls in Israel regularly show the popularity of a "national unity" government."

Yea, and polls in the US regularly show that widespread healthcare coverage is wanted-- but when it gets down to specifics, the generic evaporates.

It'll be interesting to see how it develops, my guess is it's even more fractured than before-- whatever national gov't comes out of the election.

Israeli’s are illegally occupying a neighbor’s land. The racist acts of the Israelis should be embarrassing to a people who constantly claim to be victims of racism themselves. They are doing much worse than apartheid ever did in South Africa. They routinely settle (steal) land that belongs to someone else. They have shown themselves to be among the most oppressive and immoral people in the world. I personally am ashamed that my country would support Israel in any way.

Yes, I don't envision Shinui as part of a Social Democratic party. The party has a neo-liberal economic agends, however "left" its social agenda is.

As for Tim's comment, while I agree Israeli's occupation is illegal and immoral, I would hesitate to bandy about the term "racist." And there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Jews in Israel who strongly oppose these policies. Are they among the most "immoral people in the world"?

Tim, you are hysterical and obviously have no knowledge of history to say what u said. Worse, you are clearly beyond being anti-Israel, you are an anti-semite. Glad to see you are on the side of Arafat. My guess is that most of the foreign policy decisions that American makes embarasses you too. Thank goodness our political leaders realize how wrong headed and ignorant your thinking is. Go back to school.

Just what the Democrats need here in America--a neo-liberal economic agenda
combined with social liberalism and freedom. I think many of the old-line
left wing parties around the world are
in trouble. Labor in Isreal is an example. (The SPD in Germany could be next.)

Lapid has said that shinui will not be part of a left-wing government together with labor, meretz, and the Arab parties. Shinui is opposed to any negotiations until terrorism ends, and against negotiation with Arafat alltogether.

I think you are confusing the leftwing with their avowed distaste of the rightwing, here is Lapid saying he will join with Likud/Labor:
http://www.arutzsheva.org/news.php3?id=37603

Excellent digest of what's been going on; thank you for that.

Russell, you show how quickly any criticism of Israel will result in a retaliation of "you are anti-Semitic." How sad.

I assume your comment on history is a reference to the Jewish historical claim to all the Palestinian land. I guess the Native Americans have claim to all of North America in your opinion too? Or maybe you think that all races should have claim to their land of origin? Or does that right just apply to the Jewish people?

Of course Lapid will join a Likud/Labor coalition. That would be a centrist national unity government. My point is that Shinui is a centrist party, not a left party, and would not joint a left wing government. Here is an op-ed in Haaretz by Gideon Levy that labels Shinui a right wing nationalist party. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtElection.jhtml?itemNo=243497

You're right, Lapid is certainly playing the role of the chameleon, but given that it's Haaretz, which seems probably biased toward Mitzna from my reading, it seems more designed to knock down Shinui than anything else.

I've a heard time believing, despite what Lapid said, that he wouldn't join Labour and Meretz in a coalition, again playing the kingpin-- in the same way I have a hard time believing that Labour won't join a national government (as does Lapid). Just political positioning.

Latest Haaretz poll (sorry can't access the link) has Likud at 31 seats, Labor at 19. The right-wing bloc at 66, the left-wing at 36, and the center at 18.

Looks like the fat lady is belting away.

Tim, denying the Jews a right to a state of their own is anti-semitism. The sad thing is your inability to admit it. U can be anti-Isreal without being anti-Jewish. U however seem to be both.

No Russell, I say that the Israelis have no claim to the occupied Palestinian territories. The Israelis should pull back all their people into Israel and they would see the whole world get off their back. Are you denying the Palestinian people a state of their own?

When the Palestinian leadership stops acting like savages and when they stop celebrating suicide bombers and the 9-11 bombers, then maybe they can get a homeland. So far they show too much of a love for a culture of revenge and death. Sorry that you sympathize with them.

I admire a people who are face with far superior firepower, but will bravely fight their oppressors with their bare hands. They will resist the evil ones who enslave them and never give up the honorable fight. Just like the Jews never gave up their struggle to be free from their oppressors in ancient times, the Palestinians will not give up now when the Israelis are the tyrants. I am sorry for you Russell that you side with an obvious bully who abuses his weaker neighbor. How can you justify the occupation of the Palestinian territory, oppression of the people and the systematic theft of the Palestinian land by the Jewish settlers? Or will you even attempt to defend those terrible acts?