Senior Likud figures: Netanyahu needs to go, the nation can't stand him

As a gentile lover of Israel I am not surprised thatLikud was defeated. I do not understand all of uyour politics but I do understand the Hebrew scriptures and Israel is G-d's land and you are His people, who like so many have turned their backs on Adonai. As I prayed about the election I sensed Adonai saying I made a suzarain covenant and My people have broken it and I need to bring them to seek Me and not man.

What happened? At one time he was the fair-haired boy. I loved him as most Americans did. Maybe that's it. Americans loved him more than Israelis. Maybe it ewent to his head. I think probably that he could be very successful in the US. I bet that's where he ends up.

Hey BiBi Baby... Come back home and we are sure you will be OK..Your exit out of the Holy land may start the REAL PEACE Process. With War mongereres like you and the settler Buffoons in check, the inhabitants of this region will have a shot at getting to live together in harmony.... Ali

Haaretz after election reportage provides the Israeli public with a little needed or desired sensationalistic approach to journalism by shouting out a the headline "SENIOR LIKUD FIGURES: NETANYAHU NEEDS TO GO, THE NATION CAN'T STAND HIM" and then the reporters and editors goes miles out of their way to prove this moronic headline without once providing its reader with an alternative point of view. One must congratulate Haaretz for their classical use of a leftwing hatchet job on centrist political figure. The reality is that there are so many reasons why Likud went down in the Polls that the Nation?s like or dislike of Benjamin Netanyahu is probably not in the top 5 or 10 reasons. The first and main reason is that about 1/3 of their MKs left to form a new party with Ariel Sharon. DUH. Reason number two is because Likud was elected on the basis of their rejection of unilateral gifts to the terrorists leading the Palestinians and then went and double-crossed their constituents. It wi

The Israeli media elevates and demonizes with all the experience learned from 2000 years exile. The Church, the Czar or the KGB couldn't improve on the tactic.

Yes, Bibi is the worst PM that Israel ever had and yes, Bibi needs to be thrown out of politics. But Israelis don't want the truth when a lie is always much better and nobody can tell lies like Bibi. So one day Bibi will make a comeback and probably be PM again because Israelis love liars.

Yes, Bibi is the worst PM that Israel ever had and yes, Bibi needs to be thrown out of politics. But Israelis don't want the truth when a lie is always much better and nobody can tell lies like Bibi. So one day Bibi will make a comeback and probably be PM again because Israelis love liars.

I can understand the Israeli desire for peace- especially after all the recent violence. But such aversion to conflict and desire for peace shouldn't cloud the issues or options they face. Electing a moderate is no guarantee that your enemy will fall in lock step with you. Indeed, history (in Israel) teaches the opposite). So, Netanyahu is vilified and his party does poorly because Israelis are tired and want a resolution of their precarious situation. That's fine but it won't change the facts on the ground. Notice that Hamas hasn't softened its position one iota. So Israel moves a bit to the center or left and Hamas remains constant. That?s the real problem. And the solution- however painful or drawn out- is a more decisive if not violent response to Hamas and those that jeopardize Israel?s safety.

Marco, what the hell are you tlaking about? Bibi is welcome in GW Bush's America??? Dubya's approval rating is lower than ever, it's subterranean, and it shows no sign of rising. The public doesn't even trust him on Iraq/security anymore. He's a dinosaur here as much as Bibi is in Israel. Angry wealthy men frightening people into hysteria and taking money and programs away from the poor and children does not fly here any more than it does in Israel. Maybe Dubya and Bibi should buy themselves an island and move there so they can decompress after robbing from the poor to give to the rich and inciting needless hate and violence. Although I agree with you - Israel doesn't deserve Bibi... NOBODY DOES!

No, no, no, Bibi is in awaiting mode.. How come you may ask? well Olmert will not dream of contemplating to add Likud under Bibi to his Grand Coalition. But, to put the account right, Mr. Amir Peretz may as a matter of real politics to consider Bibi as a legitimate addition to his counter Olmert's coalition. Well, Haaretz is trying to put such a possibility from becoming a reality. Once Bibi is out, Olmert will consider Likud. I think we might just have decoded the Haaretz spin.

The election results are not over yet. It is all based on exit poll. It is clear that the media has been pro-left wingers. It is interesting to note that in all of Israel's Wars of Survival against the surrounding Arab Islamist-Jihadist States in 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973, the government was led by the leftist party. As Peres has stated he is more left than he used to be. Kadima is definitely a leftist political party. Giving away more of the historic land of Israel to Hamastan will not ensure that Israel will not be attacked by her sworn enemies--Hamastan, Fatahan, Hezbollah, Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc. A leftist government seems to encourage Israel's enemies to launch an attack on Israel to accomplish their goal of "wiping Israel off the map." Hence, the Ayatollahists are feverishly working on completing their nukes to attain their dark objective.

I voted anything to stop him being leader, I think he makes a dreadful Prime Minister .. but the Likud collapse is because of him?? Hardly .. The Likud collapse is the insistance of hardliners and the moving away of the center .. Some of those hardliners voted further right, some voted further central .. that is all .. the Likud Party became something that was not suitable for the majority anymore .. As for Netanyahu .. He is quite correct, what he has done for the country financially is excellent .. slightly capitalist true, but with him as finance minister under a more central socially concious party .. Most would be happy with that .. JOIN KADIMA AND DO THE JOB THAT YOU ARE GOOD AT .. YOU ARE NOT A LEADER .. But then .. none of them are .. WHERE ARE ALL THE INSPIRING VISIONARIES? I guess they just dont go into politics

Bibi, you don't belong in Israel. Here in Boston you belonged. You were a real American. You never even talked about Israel. You belong here with us. Your best bet is to pick a state that needs new Republican blood. Run for Congress. You'll lose, of course. But at least the people here "can stand you." Israelis don't appreciate you. But here, in George W. Bush's America, we do appreciate you. This is your home. Yoni, your bro, now there was an Israeli. Not you. You are an American. Israel doesnot deserve a prince like you.

Shalom, Livnat, Katz and Neveh are nobodies. Not that Bibi is a great man, but he is not the single one to be blamed. The rest are a bunch of nobodies. Maybe only Landau is somebody there, but his ideas are too archaic and unpopular with the mainstream israelies. The truth is there is nobody to rebuild Likud. Steinitz is also nobody- Beilin of the right. Maybe Misha can do something, but he's old enough. I liked his piece on israeli arabs, he certainly is a Likudnik with the right non-racist attitude. The truth is everybody is happy the Likud of Katz, Shalom, Livnat and Naveh is screwed up. No hard feeling's to Bibbey. And now we will have a sovi-nazi Liberman on the right. What a screw up!

i could only smile when hearing netanyahu's comments after his party's collapse. it was sharon's fault, it was the media's fault, it was the moon fault's, the stars, gravity...everybody and everything was responsible for likud's collapse, except bibi of course, he had nothing to do with it, it's never his fault.

It's not true that Kadima and Likud are two sides of the same coin. Kadima is composed of centrist ex-members of Likud (who "saw the light" after being righties) and centrist members of Labor, united in order to draw Israel's final borders. Likud is basically composed of the Rebels, plus Silvan Shalom and a few others, which is why they lost so horribly. Whether you agree with the platform or not, Kadima now has a mandate to abandon Greater Israel in exchange for smaller borders, which will likely be accepted by the U.S., and, hopefully, begrudgingly recognized by the EU as well. Likud would like to delay this process, using the excuse of 'no partner,' all the while steadily building settlements. That, in my opinion, is quite a different path from Kadima.

Only UZI LANDAU stands out among the crowd!

As a former supporter of the Likud I didn't vote for them because of Sylvan Shalom, who wants him to be a heartbeat away from the leadership? He wrecked havoc on the economy when he was in charge. Bibi has what it takes to be Prime Minister if only he would follow his ideology instead of the polls. He could have stood up and protested the disengagement long before he did, he might not have been able to stop it but he could have been seen as a man of courage. Instead he did what he did and the others followed suit. It's too bad, he made some tragic mistakes which cost him the leadership and deprived the rest of us from having a leader.

The Israelis didn't want Netanyahu anymore, because he and his fellows neo-con in US (Wolfowitz, Perle and the Gang)has failed US and Israel because of their miscalculation in Iraq. Iraq, rather than an "example" for The Arab and Tso called terrorists, it was a disaster in biblical proportion.

I voted Likud BECAUSE of Netanyahu. And as far as his economic policies are concerned, let us not forget that there is a 120 seat Knesset who approved his plans -including members of Kadima AND Labour AND Likud.

Part of my subject comes from an American news site that highlighted the election as having caused the nation to be divided. On the other hand an unbiased observer may call it a good thing as no extremist party won and those in the center of it all have to work with each other to rule. I do think however that those who mock Likud are being very "Niger Yellow Cake" ish in their reporting. Last time around a united Likud won close to 40 seats. Then Sharon and his followers quit and the result is Kadima has won 28 and Likud 11 which adds up to close to 40 for two sides of the same coin. It is reprehensible to twist facts to show what is not true. I must say this I sincerely hope Bibi's time is over and he retires from politics forever.

As a Palestinian, I was sad to see Bibi humiliated not because I have any respect for him but because he was our best weapon. They guy is much disliked by many that many of our supporters had been converted after being exposed to one of Bibi's speeches or soundbites. He is so full of himself to the point of revulsion. Now we have lost our man we need to find a replacement.

Never have I been a fan of Netanyahu. His attitude is dangerous to this country and he would do well to get away from here, and take his family with him. Frankly, Likud was my least favorite party, after the bully Lieberman. If it wouldn't be so sad, it would be laughable, to blame Sharon for his downfall. The poor man cannot defend himself, but even though I never voted Likud, Sharon deserved a lot of respect and did his best under the circumstances. It is also doubtful, if the tables were turned, he would never act the child and blame anyone. Bibi is definitely a cry baby, who tries to impress the impressionables with his intelligence. There are plenty of intelligent but stupid people. Bibi's personality was clearly written in his shifty eyes. He was never able to look anyone straight in the eye. If the Likud really wants to understand what happened, or soul search, their first step should be to unload Bibi and a few others of his ilk, and then start all over.

I have lived in Israel for over 30 years. I have voted Likud in 4 previous elections including twice for Netanyahu. This time there was NO WAY I was voting form him OR the likud. The party is a corrupt, vulgar shadow of itself which is beyond rehabilitation. Netanyahu is a self seeking hypocrite (so you'll say aren't all politicians) whose performance as Treasury Minister waqs tainted by his unwarranted cutback of the already meager resources of the disabled, pensioners, single mothers etc. His resignation on the grounds of "principle" because of the abandonment of Gush Katif was too little, too late. Being competent in English in no way compensates for his general incompetence. But who will the Likud offer now? Limor Livnat who has contributed to the decay of the education system or Sylvan Shalom whose wife is at least as much of a laughing stock as Ms. Netanyahu or perhaps Yaakov Alperon. Goodbye and good ridance to the lot.

Like his name suggests, a child whose toy got taken away by the kids of the neighbours. Never a moment of selfreflection, never even an attempt to see whom he can connect to, always negative, blamegaming, sulking. What an immature child do we have here. His future? Back to the lecturing circuit. It's Sharons fault... My G-d, isn't it Ben-Gurions fault too, and Golda's, that Bibi is no longer King of Israel? Even a Russian bouncer like Lieberman does better, because at least he has a clear vision and a clear constituency.