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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Poll on Israeli stance toward a new peace party |
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by indymedia.org.il via gehrig
(No verified email address)
Address: zemblan@earthlink.net |
27 Mar 2002
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Haaretz article about the degree of public support for a new peace-centric party in Israel. It's a pity that, on the same day, more voters were probably driven into the Likud by another suicide bombing against civilians -- in this case, on the most inportant night of one of the chief Jewish holidays. |
Wednesday, March 27th, 2002
Yossi Verter/Haaretz
A new peace party combining Meretz, Labor Party doves, new immigrants and moderate Arabs would win 19-20 seats in the Knesset if such a bloc could be formed, according to a poll presented to Meretz leaders this week.
The poll showed that if elections were held today, the party would be the second-largest in the country after the Likud, followed by Shas, and Labor, which would have 15 mandates.
The poll measured the popularity of three combinations: Meretz with Labor doves, Meretz and an immigrant party and Meretz with Arabs. The results showed that if Meretz runs alone, it will win 9-10 seats in the Knesset, with two seats coming at the expense of Labor, but when combined with other parties, the peace bloc would grow significantly.
Meretz was perceived by those surveyed in the poll, as a party that promotes important laws, sticks to its principles, "dynamic," "incorruptible," and "committed to social justice."
The competition between Meretz and Shinui mainly involves the new immigrant vote, and according to Meretz leader, MK Yossi Sarid, the party will place a new immigrant in a realistic slot in its next list for elections. One leading candidate for that post is Democratic Choice Chairman MK Roman Bronfman, who has staked out a strong following among new immigrants and has been winning support from the peace camp due to his supporting the reservist soldiers who are refusing to serve in the territories.
With the political map divided into left, center and right, Meretz discovered in the poll that on the left side of the spectrum, it is in a head-to-head race with Labor over the question as to which party is more committed to peace.
Meretz and Labor sources involved in discussions over a possible left-bloc merger said the main obstacle to Yossi Beilin and Avraham Burg leading a walkout of Labor party doves is whether Sarid would head the new party.
"We won't get far with him at the top of the list," said one source. |
