Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05TELAVIV6920
2005-12-14 13:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:  

PHANTOM EFFORT TOWARD NEW GOVERNMENT

Tags:  PGOV IS ELECTIONS GOI INTERNAL 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

141331Z Dec 05
C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 006920 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2015
TAGS: PGOV IS ELECTIONS GOI INTERNAL
SUBJECT: PHANTOM EFFORT TOWARD NEW GOVERNMENT


Classified By: Political Counselor Norman Olsen for reasons 1.4 (b,d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 006920

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/12/2015
TAGS: PGOV IS ELECTIONS GOI INTERNAL
SUBJECT: PHANTOM EFFORT TOWARD NEW GOVERNMENT


Classified By: Political Counselor Norman Olsen for reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) The Israeli press is decimating forests and spewing
ink in its speculation over the claimed efforts of mostly
unnamed -- but apparently desperate -- Likud MKs to garner
support for a new government in the 15 days remaining before
the Knesset's December 29 dissolution. For such an effort to
succeed, even if claims of 54 to 56 supporters are correct,
it would need support from Shas, Shinui or Labor, all of
whose leaders and spokesmen have emphatically rejected the
possibility. Those few sources willing to be identified with
the movement have declined to name those MKs, other than
Yuval Steinitz and Reuven Rivlin, whom they say are
adherents.


2. (C) The Likud Party is severely weakened after the
one-two punch of losing Likud Ministers Tzachi Hanegbi and
Shaul Mofaz to Kadima in less than a week, on top of the 13
Likud MKs whom Ariel Sharon had already led to Kadima. In a
Dahaf Institute poll released December 12, Likud would win
just 11 Knesset seats if elections were held today -- down
from the 38 it won in the last elections. In contrast,
support for Prime Minister Sharon's Kadima Party continues to
grow, with the poll showing it would win 41 seats if voting
were held today. Staving off elections from March 28 until
the originally scheduled November 2006 date by forming an
alternative government would afford Likud seven more months
to build up the party from its weakened state.



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