Tuesday, 9 December 2008

Right of center dominate Likud primary, alongside moderates, religious right

DEBKAfile Special Report

December 9, 2008, 8:53 AM (GMT+02:00)

Party whip Gideon Saar, top Likud favorite

Party whip Gideon Saar, top Likud favorite

Likud voters rewarded its 12 workhorse legislators in the opposition party primary which took place Monday, Dec. 8, by placing party whip Gideon Saar, 42, Gilead Erdan and Reuven Rivlin in the top three slots. Of Binyamin Netanyahu's new arrivals, only Benny Begin and former chief of staff Moshe Yaalon made it to the top ten in fourth and eighth places.

This group of favorites holds that final status talks with Arab leaders, especially the Palestinians, is untimely in the light of the Gaza experience. 
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Netanyahu's first post-primary task is to pick a shadow cabinet

DEBKAfile Exclusive Analysis

December 8, 2008, 9:55 PM (GMT+02:00)

Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu

Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu

The Israeli elector is desperate for fresh faces, new energy and clear thinking in the defense, finance and foreign ministries to replace a government dithering for months on every key issue. Likud leader Binyamin Netanyahu has been abstruse rather than enlightening. But after the primaries of Monday, Dec. 8, he will have to level with the voter.

Read DEBKAfile Exclusive Analysis below. 
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