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17th
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16:05
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The Muqata
While Foreign Minister Tzippi Livni claims to have a monopoly on being the "Mrs Clean" of Israeli politics, Bibi Netanyahu has managed to embrace the ubiquitous Mr. Clean of the Israeli political landscape,
Benny Beigin -- and he is re-joining the Likud for the upcoming Knesset elections.
A right winger of upstanding character, Mr. Begin is one of those rare politicians whose idealogy drives their poltical decsions.
Bibi is certainly stacking the Likud with hopeful MKs who trounce all other parties; Former IDF Commander-in-Chief Moshe "Bogey" Yaalon, Former IDF spokesperson, Miri Regev, and now Benny Beigin. Even
Effy Eitam from the Mafdal/National Union party wants to run for the Likud list.
I'm sure Tzipi Livni isn't thrilled by this turn of events. (Why Jewish Agency chairman
Zeev Bielski wants to join Kadima is beyond me)
Her Kadima party currently includes:
PM Ehud Olmert is currently under 7 different criminal investigations!
MK
Tzachi HaNegbi (indicted, awaiting trial for fraud and breach of trust for allegedly making 69 inappropriate political appointments while serving as environment minister between 2001 and 2003)
MK
Yaakov Edri (police recommend indictment for breach of trust and accepting a bribe, awaiting special hearing)
MK
Eli Aflalo (under police investigation for bribery)
MK
Ruchama Avraham (under police investigation for bribery)
MK
Chaim Ramon (convicted sexual predator -- sexual harassment)
Former Finance Minister, MK
Avraham Hirschson (indicted for breach of trust, aggravated fraud, theft and money laundering) and past MK Omri Sharon, convicted criminal of fraud and breech of public trust.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
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14:27
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The Muqata
At 10 PM last night, you could hear the glee in their voices on TV and Radio:
The exit polls predict that Tzippi Livni is the new leader of Kadima!
Channel 10's Poll - 49%
Channel 1's Poll - 47%
Channel 2's Poll - 48%
It's becoming almost routine for Israel's pollsters and media pundits to get it wrong time after time. True, Tzippy Livni
did win, but by 341 votes. The margin of error for a win by 341 votes makes it statistically impossible to have accurately predicted that Livni would win -- based on scientific statistical models.
One should tip their hat to the "Yisrael Hayom" (Israel Today) newspaper whose headline this morning read: "Ma'avak Tzamud" (or "neck and neck") and refused to print outright that Livni won. At one point last night during the count, Mofaz was even leading Livni by 40 votes.
So what happened? How does it happen that time after time, Israel's pollsters and media get it wrong? How did every single polling company predict that Livni would win by a double digit landslide, yet in reality she won by 1 percent?
The red-faced pollsters (and Israel's media pundits, like IDF radio host Razi Barkai) placed the blame this morning not upon themselves, but due to "the lying, conneiving Israeli."
Instead of looking at the pollsters for answers, one should be turning to sociologists and societal psychologists...or ask the pollsters why they skew results?
Everyone laughed at Shaul Mofaz when he made his "bombastic" announcement a few days ago, that
he would win the primaries with a result of 43.7% of the vote -- after all, Haaretz 's poll
predicted a landslide victory for Livni.
Of everyone who made predictions, Shaul Mofaz was the closest to reality! While he did lose -- Livni received 43% and himself 42%, he was closer than any other polster or pundit. Mofaz knew his people were showing up to vote, which is why he was so certain of his win. What is he secret -- perhaps he really should be the leader of Kadima?
Why would an Israeli "lie" to a pollster?
Perhaps because people enjoy getting egg on the face of the arrogant media outlets that try to run our lives on a daily basis.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
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23:18
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The Muqata
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was just interviewed on Channel 2 Israel TV News.
He was questioned about the US financial crisis and what would he do if he were Prime Minister or Finance Minister.
Bibi's response:
1. Ensure that the Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer quickly examines what the state of Israel's banks are, and their exposure to the US financial crisis, in order to reassure and instill confidence in Israel's banking industry. This is being done already, as Fischer is meeting with all the heads of the banks tomorrow morning.
2. Lower taxes for both citizens and corporations.
3. Improve and invest in Israel's infrastructures and free up land for infrastructure investments, to encourage foreign investment in Israel.
The interviewer then asked about politics, and here comes the line.
Bibi was asked, "Tomorrow is Kadima's primaries, assuming you get a call to join an emergency unity government the day afterwords, what do you say?
Bibi replies, "There is no way I would join."
The interviewer queried, "Why not? This is for an issue of national importance. Why not?"
Bibi responded with this amazing line, "Asking me to join a government led by Kadima, is like asking me to join the board of directors of Lehman Brothers. Just like Lehman Brothers went bankrupt so has Kadima, which hasn't succeeded in anything, in any field."
As transcribed by Jameel in the field (on his way home from work).
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
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11:10
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The Muqata
This coming Monday morning, at 10:30 AM, another few hundred North American Jews will arrive at the JFK airport in preparation for their flight home.
Its now slightly after 1 AM in NY, and I'm honestly very excited for the privilege to join this flight. I recall almost 18 years ago, the night before I moved to Israel. I couldn't sleep. Tossing and turning with anticipation, excitement, and a bit of trepidation, I could barely squash the jumble of thoughts which prevented me from sleeping.
Songs danced around in my head. Homeward Bound, ושבו בנים, Take me home, אם אשכח ירושלים, and so many others.
In the end, I didn't sleep. It was too much. I didn't sleep on the plane either...all the way home to Israel -- It was far too exhilarating.
But that was almost 18 years ago.
I spoke to one of the families tonight that I will be escorting home on tomorrow's flight. They had already put their kids to sleep, and were very excited about the flight...the culmination of their planning, hopes and dreams to return home.
Please join me over the next few days as I blog about 2 families and their journey home.
My thanks to Nefesh b'Nefesh and Webads for arranging this special trip.
--Jameel
PS; And special, special thanks to my wife and children, for their understanding -- while I "disappeared" for a few days to accompany this special flight.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
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17:38
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The Muqata
A few years back I had some cool ideas for livening up the JBlogosphere. I managed to implement a few; the Purim parody carnival or the Purim collaborative Purim Podcast, yet others never got off the drawing board (like the JBlogosphere Game Show idea, which I think is still a great idea, but don't have the time or advertising cash to make it happen yet).
And then...this opportunity drops into my lap. Not only is it completely in tandem with my blog's goals and aspirations of promoting the good things about Israel, love for the land, and a general feeling of connection -- but the idea spans many blogs and bloggers.
Nefesh b'Nefesh has offered to send me and other JBloggers to the US (and return back) on one of their aliya flights -- to accompany an oleh family and blog their experience before leaving, during the flight, and at the welcome-home reception at Ben-Gurion airport. In addition to helping share their personal aliya, there will be a
JBlogger conference in Yerushalayim the next day.
I'm not listed yet on any conference panels...because I haven't yet figured out how to keep the yellow smiley face on my head for so long...
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
While Foreign Minister Tzippi Livni claims to have a monopoly on being the "Mrs Clean" of Israeli politics, Bibi Netanyahu has managed to embrace the ubiquitous Mr. Clean of the Israeli political landscape, Benny Beigin -- and he is re-joining the Likud for the upcoming Knesset elections.
I'm sure Tzipi Livni isn't thrilled by this turn of events. (Why Jewish Agency chairman Zeev Bielski wants to join Kadima is beyond me)
