ASHDAD, ISRAEL: Avigdor Lieberman, candidate for the Israel Beiteinu party, makes one final trip around his stronghold cities today, a last ditch get out the vote effort. Polls are already showing at least a 3% increase in turnout over the last election cycle. There is an air of excitement in the Lieberman camp today. For the first time, Israel Beiteinu is likely to beat Labor in votes and become the third largest party. IB is very right-wing and has a very hard line stance on Hamas, and with a projected 16 seats, they will be able to coalition with Likud, the major right-wing party, and completely avoid a unity government. This doesn’t bode well for a Hamas-Israel ceasefire any time in the near future.

What’s so surprising is how the Israeli people, who used to refer to IB as the fringe of right-wing politics, have embraced the party. Kadima, the moderate current power, was hoping the Gaza War would prove their strength, but the conflict actually drove voters to more hawkish parties.

Article from Jerusalem Post: ‘Lieberman isn’t racist, Hamas is’