With Time Running Out, Israel Election Too Close to Call

Lieberman Seen as Kingmaker, But Is His Gain Netanyahu's Loss?

The Israeli elections are just three days away now, and the polls show a continuing trend: the Yisrael Beiteinu party of Avigdor Lieberman is gaining by leaps and bounds, and his gain is narrowing the gap between the frontrunning Likud Party and the Kadima Party.

The surge has put presumptive next Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an uncomfortable position. He will almost certainly need Lieberman’s support to form the next government, and has been reluctant to publicly criticize him. At the same time, Lieberman’s meteoric rise in recent days may jeopardize Netanyahu’s once seemingly-inevitable first place finish.

At this point, Kadima and Likud are neck-and-neck. The number of undecided voters however remains significant, and the way they break could radically alter the political landscape. The party that finishes first will have the first opportunity to attempt to form a coalition government, hugely important with so many potential partners who could go either way.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.