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Last update - 22:53 27/10/2008
VIDEO / Polls show Livni edging past Netanyahu for PM, Labor headed for debacle
By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press
Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu 

New polls on Monday showed Kadima leader Tzipi Livni pulling ahead of hawkish rival Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu, a day after she steered the country toward early elections at the beginning of next year.

For much of the past two years, Netanyahu has been the clear front-runner in polls which asked prospective voters their choice for prime minister.

The polls also showed Labor in dire straits with the electorate. As Labor officials were quoted as seeking to replace him as party chair, Ehud Barak Monday dismissed talk of a possible joint electoral list with the ruling Kadima.
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A poll by the Dahaf Research Institute showed Livni's Kadima Party winning 29 of parliament's 120 seats, the same number it has now, and Netanyahu's Likud taking 26 if elections were held today. A TNS Teleseker survey gave Kadima 31 seats to Likud's 29.

Both surveys said Labor, which is now the second largest party, would win 11 seats if elections were held this week.

In the last nationwide election, held in 2006, Kadima held 29 seats, Labor 19 and the Likud 12.

"I stand at the head of a rooted, values-oriented party, and I invite every citizen to think of what Kadima has brought us in its three years of existence," Barak told Israel Radio Monday, rejecting suggestions that his party was considering a joint list with Livni's.

Earlier in the day, Labor cabinet minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer told a Tel Aviv radio station that "There's not much difference between Kadima and Labor," adding that in the current political reality parties "must run as blocs and not run separately."

The surveys showed the country's right-center and left-center blocs fairly evenly split, a deadlock that has paralyzed peacemaking in the past.

Livni took the helm of the Kadima Party last month in a primary election forced by multiple corruption allegations against the incumbent prime minister, Ehud Olmert. She tried to avoid propelling Israel toward its third national election in six years by keeping the current government intact. But coalition partners, most prominently the 12-seat ultra-Orthodox Shas Party, used the situation to press new demands she refused to accept. In a meeting with President Shimon Peres on Sunday, Livni said she would not give in to what she called political blackmail.

Elections are expected to take place early next year, a year and a half ahead of schedule.

The surveys published Monday suggested the public approved Livni's tough stand against the political horse-trading and did not reproach her for failing to marshal a coalition. But the advantage was narrow and could easily evaporate especially if new Israeli-Palestinian violence erupts.

Netanyahu, who has been pressing for new elections for months, has not commented publicly since Livni officially abandoned her coalition-building efforts, though he will have a wide forum when, as opposition leader, he addresses the nationally televised opening of parliament's winter session later Monday. Commenting on the polls, Likud faction head Gideon Sa'ar said the contest between the two leaders would be tough.

"But I believe the majority of the public wants a new course ... that will improve the country's economy and security," he told Israel Radio.


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      1.   Only WORDS will not help Israel to survive..... 11:07  |  Dagma 27/10/08
      2.   How about an Alignment of Words and Ability.... 11:36  |  Pathfinder 27/10/08
      3.   And what do we learn from that poll....???? 11:40  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/10/08
      4.   Livni 11:41  |  Ralph 27/10/08
      5.   Support of Shas 11:52  |  Jackie 27/10/08
      6.   This poll is valueless 11:59  |  Alan Schleider 27/10/08
      7.   This is a Joke 12:20  |  Levi 27/10/08
      8.   It is the same Livni of Kadima`s 1701 Resolution 12:37  |  The Threadmill 27/10/08
      9.   It is the same Livni of Kadima`s 1701 Resolution 12:37  |  The Threadmill 27/10/08
      10.   Bibi is inconsistent... 12:41  |  Esther 27/10/08
      11.   the polls have been wrong in the past 13:16  |  observer 27/10/08
      12.   What Which Polls? 13:21  |  Truth 27/10/08
      13.   Netanyahu, Livni, it`s a dice roll who is better 13:52  |  Natallie Durson 27/10/08
      14.   What happened to Livni suddenly? 14:22  |  Dolly 27/10/08
      15.   To Esther # 10 - Not quite...... 14:33  |  Natasha 27/10/08
      16.   If it were not for Barak`s ego.... 14:37  |  Esther 27/10/08
      17.   Labour Party out of touch for years, slide to continue 14:38  |  Joe Sittizen 27/10/08
      18.   To observer # 11 - Spot On! 15:20  |  Onlooker 27/10/08
      19.   2 trends in sharper profile 15:22  |  Paul Freedman 27/10/08
      20.   polls 90 days away from elections are abad joke 15:26  |  victor hardman 27/10/08
      21.   Livni is not worth more than a passing thought .. 15:28  |  redmike 27/10/08
      22.   The media is attempting to control the elections 15:32  |  Gee 27/10/08
      23.   #4 -and who would have bee the right partner? 15:33  |  redmike 27/10/08
      24.   #14 - "younger promsing Laborites" - such as who? 15:36  |  redmike 27/10/08
      25.   From now till then....... 15:55  |  Josephus 27/10/08
      26.   Livni failed miserably during the 2006 Lebanon war..Hizbullah... 15:55  |  Jordan 27/10/08
      27.   Vote Livni and Barak ahead of Bibi. 15:58  |  Daniel Garcia 27/10/08
      28.   Livni put Israel`s security in the UN`s incapable hands... 15:58  |  James 27/10/08
      29.   redmike #23 15:58  |  Esther 27/10/08
      30.   Remember 1701-Hizbullah has better weapons now..Thanks Livni... 16:00  |  Samuel 27/10/08
      31.   Vote Livni and Barak ahead of Bibi. 16:06  |  Daniel Garcia 27/10/08
      32.   No way, remember Livni`s secret negotiations... 16:08  |  Jamie 27/10/08
      33.   haaretz is really scared of Likud 16:09  |  Nephtaly 27/10/08
      34.   There have been too many Kadima failures and strategic blunders.. 16:10  |  Jordan 27/10/08
      35.   Haaretz publishes another Scam Poll by Leftist Tsfoni Liars 16:10  |  Feiglin for PM 27/10/08
      36.   Kadima forgets there are voters and citizens out there... 16:11  |  James 27/10/08
      37.   To Daniel#27-Maybe in your ill informed eyes only... 16:18  |  Jordan 27/10/08
      38.   Swiss and her bogus analysis 16:22  |  Nephtaly 27/10/08
      39.   To #31 And thats why Bibi will win..no Jew wants to give half of 16:22  |  James 27/10/08
      40.   Kadima, Avoda, Meretz = Katushas landing in Tel Aviv 16:28  |  Tomer 27/10/08
      41.   people of israel a vote for livni=death and detruction 16:29  |  chaim 27/10/08
      42.   Fake Polls - The Ramat Aviv / Herzeliya Branja are at it again 16:33  |  Gavriel 27/10/08
      43.   The leftists are going BYE BYE 16:34  |  Nephtaly 27/10/08
      44.   To Swiss [Dino]# 4 - You must be dreaming 16:50  |  Dagma 27/10/08
      45.   I Guess Israelis NEVER Learn 17:14  |  Tod Zuckerman 27/10/08
      46.   Israel `FOOLSTERS` reflect the POWERHUNGRY, NOT THE PEOPLE 17:22  |  SPTZ 27/10/08
      47.   to mr. Gee Nobody #22 17:29  |  Northern 27/10/08
      48.   To Dagma, 17:43  |  ari 27/10/08
      49.   # 38 Nephtaly, I understand that you are probably used to call... 17:47  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/10/08
      50.   Israeli`s lost faith in Gov. 17:52  |  Esther 27/10/08
      51.   Save the Universities 17:53  |  Elisha Galon 27/10/08
      52.   # 44 Dagma 17:54  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/10/08
      53.   Polls mean nothing, In the end Netanyahu will win 18:23  |  Livin In Rishon 27/10/08
      54.   Arrogant Swiss(Dino) 18:42  |  JP 27/10/08
      55.   to 53 18:47  |  Northern 27/10/08
      56.   Esther #29 18:52  |  S 27/10/08
      57.   Swiss (Dino) #3 Freudian Slip 19:03  |  David israel 27/10/08
      58.   dont ever forget 19:20  |  amihai 27/10/08
      59.   Elections 19:28  |  Dani 27/10/08
      60.   Response to # 55 Northern 19:48  |  Shepherd 27/10/08
      61.   Dani - election minimums 19:54  |  David Israel 27/10/08
      62.   Livni`s tough stand against the political horse-trading 19:58  |  Sarah 27/10/08
      63.   Again with polls? Already? 20:12  |  RSL 27/10/08
      64.   Billions for Shas, but not one cent for education 20:15  |  Yonatan 27/10/08
      65.   Northern #47 sure do 20:21  |  Gee 27/10/08
      66.   Short memories 20:21  |  Yonatan 27/10/08
      67.   the poll must have been done in gaza or palestinian towns 20:24  |  yahn goodey 27/10/08
      68.   to #60 Shepherd 20:40  |  Northern 27/10/08
      69.   David Israel 20:41  |  Dani 27/10/08
      70.   a poll is only as accurate as the people and questions you ask 21:13  |  zionist forever 27/10/08
      71.   # 54 JP and # 57 David Israel, I thought I made it clear..... 21:17  |  Swiss (Dino) 27/10/08
      72.   4 21:42  |  zionist forever 27/10/08
      73.   To Jackie 21:56  |  Otto Rand 27/10/08
      74.   a change in the system 22:01  |  ronnie 27/10/08
      75.   To Livni in Rishon 22:06  |  Otto Rand 27/10/08
      76.   Swiss (Dino) on David 22:12  |  Nephtaly 27/10/08
      77.   Big yawn 22:22  |  paul 27/10/08
      78.   livni is gonna win the elections 22:42  |  eric 27/10/08
      79.   Re S #56 22:48  |  Esther 27/10/08
      80.   Polls of Kadima`s families only 23:38  |  My research poll 27/10/08
      81.   Our fervent wishes dovetail, eric #78... 23:42  |  Esther 27/10/08
      82.   Hey Natallie. Who should I vote for? 00:19  |  leo 28/10/08
      83.   Perhaps Barak should pull out the Whites 00:38  |  Johnboy 28/10/08
      84.   # 3, SWISS (DINO) 01:08  |  indrajaya 28/10/08
      85.   polls 02:01  |  jason bryant 28/10/08
      86.   The Other Guy Who Rejoiced Over 9/11 02:35  |  Gray 28/10/08
      87.   What a tragedy to have Netanyahu AGAIN ! 02:57  |  Fortuna Benmayor 28/10/08
      88.   come livni end netanyahu 03:02  |  rizwan 28/10/08
      89.   #87..Fortuna Benmayor 04:00  |  Malone 28/10/08
      90.   Labour cabinet MK Ben-Eliezer correct with analysis... 04:50  |  Smadar 28/10/08
      91.   I think the polls mislead because.... 04:56  |  Meir Weinstein 28/10/08
      92.   Vote for Bibi- Because Israel has earned the right to be stupid 05:14  |  dyinglikeflies 28/10/08
      93.   Israel without political unity will never have Peace. 05:48  |  Akram Zekaria 28/10/08
      94.   #75, Otto Rand 08:26  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 28/10/08
      95.   Esther #79 - I didn`t denigrate either Barak or Livni! 08:48  |  S 28/10/08
      96.   Barak says... 09:01  |  Esther 28/10/08
      97.   # 93 to akram re: prayer books 09:04  |  eric 28/10/08
      98.   For once agree completely with Cipora #94 ! 09:06  |  Esther 28/10/08
      99.   # 81 to lady esther re: dovetails 10:01  |  eric 28/10/08
      100.   Re S #95... a great injustice to the good Obama... 10:26  |  Esther 28/10/08
      101.   Tsipi 11:01  |  ronnie 28/10/08
      102.   yea right.... 11:37  |  avi 28/10/08
      103.   Wishful thinking on the part of leftist pollsters. 19:16  |  Chaim 28/10/08
      104.   Livni 20:07  |  Maña 28/10/08
      105.   livni 00:00  |  eva sweden-Israel 29/10/08
      106.   97# eric "So too is it holy to muslims" 05:40  |  Akram Zekaria. 29/10/08
      107.   SAME POLL SAYS RIGHT WING PARTYS WILL WIN & LIVNI WILL LOSE 01:58  |  HENRY MANN 30/10/08
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