Israeli election results - The Joint Arab List: Seven new MKs, two women and a lot of hope

Regarding the election results, Touma-Sliman said: "Our results provide happiness and strengthen us. The public gave us its wide confidence and clearly said that it supports the approach of unity and the attempt to gain power and protect ourselves from the waves of racism that are washing over Israel."

New MK Osama Sa'adi was disappointed with the change that did not end up coming: "The national right-wing camp and Netanyahu came out with a surprise and kept their reign. We are the third largest faction and this is the first time something like this has happened in history.

Someday voting Arabs will out number voting Jews in Israel. What then?

That's the standard propaganda line-- but its false. Here's why:

1. That meme was created when Israel occupied Gaza and the West Bank-- so their population was counted. But israel ended the occupation of Gaza and totally withdrew-- there are no longer people calling for a "Greater Israel" of Gaza will be part. Its a truism-- Gaza (100% Arab)will be part of a future Palestinian State-- not Israel.

Israelis know that a two state solution is inevitable, and that probably 97% of the West Bank will also not be part of Israel.

So what's left? "Israel Proper" (that excludes Gaza & West Bank).

2. Excluding those areas, Four out of five Israelis are Jews, not Arabs. That would take decades to overcome..but in addition:

3. Years ago, Palestinians had a very high birthrate. Many Jewish immigrants were middle-class people from Europe-- with a low birth-rate. But under Israeli rule, the standard of living of Palis has been rising. Poorer populations (worldwide)have higher birthrates-- which decreases as they become better off. The standard of living of Palis has risen greatly under Israeli rule-- and their birthrate has gone down considerably!

But, strangely, the Jewish birthrate is increasing. (I'm not sure why, but it is).

So starting with 4/5 of the population, and a rising birthrate, makes a Jewish majority pretty solid!

So starting with 4/5 of the population, and a rising birthrate, makes a Jewish majority pretty solid!

At this point, that's certain.

And there's yet another factor: immigration. Anytime there's an outbreak of anti-Semitic violence anywhere in the world-- most of the Jews who are able to get out do. In the past,there were many safe countres for them-- the U.S., many in Latin America, and Europe. But now there are really only two that are safe-- the U.S. and Israel. Some of those who survivue the pogroms go to the U.S., others to Israel.

Right now France has some of the worst anti-Semitic violence in Europe. This violence is not perpetrated by indigenous French however. Most french Jews immigrate to israel, not the U.S.

(Apparently a few used to cross the Channel to Britain, but with increasing Muslim immigration, Britain isn't as safe as it used to be).

So in addition to other factors, israel has a constant stream of immigrants increasing their population. (And Arabs are not immigrating to Israel).

So, sorry to disappoint you-- but the Jews in Israel won't be exterminated anytime soon).

Its a truism-- Gaza (100% Arab)will be part of a future Palestinian State-- not Israel.

That presumes much. The current Israeli government has no intention of there ever being a separate Palestinian state. Ever. I believe that they (the Likud Party) intend to annex the West Bank as a part of Israel. To declare that it IS in fact permanently a part of Israel. As long as there is a Likud Party, there will not be a Palestinian homeland.

As long as there is a Likud Party, there will not be a Palestinian homeland.

Not exactly. Here-- let me fix that for you:

As long as the Likud Party is in power, there will not be a Palestinian homeland.

There doesn't seem much of a chance anytime in the near future...or even distant future, that they'll let go of their grip on power. They won by a good margin. That makes it obvious that the majority of the Israeli people do not want a homeland for the Palestinians either.

But now there are really only two that are safe-- the U.S. and Israel.

And Canada - I don't think Australia or New Zealand are so bad as well.

Ever. I believe that they (the Likud Party) intend to annex the West Bank as a part of Israel.

Not a chance - it would shift the demographics too far towards an Arab majority.

There doesn't seem much of a chance anytime in the near future...or even distant future, that they'll let go of their grip on power.

Its not a question of "letting go of their grip". Its not theirs ti decide-- its a democracy, whether they choose to let go or not is irrelevent-- the voters are the one's who decide who's in power.

They didn't win by that big a margin-- especially compared to many elections. Remember FDR? Have you ever looked at the figures for the popular vote, or the electoral map. Now that was a real landslide! Huge-- & he was elected 4X in a row. So I suppose after huge landslides like that, it would be accurate to say this about the chances of having a Republican President:

There doesn't seem much of a chance anytime in the near future

But, in fact, we had some. (I didn't remember how many Rep. Pres. since FDR so I googled it-- even after FDR's huge margins (which dwarf those of Likud)-- we had ot 2 or 3 -- but 6 Republican presidents!!! So I don't think Likud dominance will last all that long....

That makes it obvious that the majority of the Israeli people do not want a homeland for the Palestinians either.

Again your lack of understanding of the situation is showing. While many westerners are obsessed about having a Palestinian state, that issue is not the main one amongst most Israelis. The urban sophisticates of Tel Aviv are more concerned about the economy.... But a Palestinian state (or not) is not what's on their mind-- in fact most of them could care less abut whether or not Israel gives up the West bank. They are happy with their lives in an amazing city like T.A.

And aside from the economy, what worries them? Iran- not "Palestine."

Even as you move right on the political spectrum, the real concern (and fear) is of a potential nuclear Iran. (And threats from Hezb'Allah, Iran's proxy).

Reading some pro-pali sites on the 'net, you could easily get the impression its the most important issue in the word-- more important, for example, than the 220,000 Syrians who have been murdered in their sectarian religious wars-- to say nothing of the refugees from that. And its still going on. Or-- ISIS' barbarism and attempted genocides. But there are other issues in the Middle East besides "Palestine"...

So Likud's victory was not about isrelis concerns about a Palestinian homeland-- rather , it was fear of iran (and of course the economy).

Finally, while its impossible to know what Netanyahu is really thinking, my guess is that he wants a Palestinian state, and to end "occupation" of former Jordanian lands (they arenotPalestinian lands & never were)-- i.e. Judea & Samarra (AKA "The West Bank").

So why doesn't he do that? Two reasons:

1. He saw what happened when Israel ended the "occupation" of former Egyptian occupied land (Gaza).

2. He needs parties to the right of Likud to remain in the coalition.