The Election Committee has declared the victory of Binyamin Netanyahu. At a 5:00pm press conference, the announcement was made following the completion of the tabulation of all of the remaining votes. Tamar Edri, Head of the Elections Committee made the official proclamation.
PRIME MINISTER:
Binyamin Netanyahu 1,501,023 (50.4%)
Shimon Peres 1,471,566 (49.5%)
KNESSET:
Potential Nationalist / Religious / Pro-Security Coalition = 68
Labor 34 seats (26.8%)
Likud 32 seats (25.1%)
Shas 10 seats (8.5%)
National Religious Party 9 seats (7.8%)
Meretz 9 seats (7.4%)
Yisrael Ba'aliya 7 seats (5.7%)
Hadash 5 seats (4.2%)
United Torah Judaism 4 seats (3.2%)
The Third Way 4 seats (3.1%)
United Arab List 4 seats (2.9%)
Moledet 2 seats (2.3%)
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JUDEA ELECTRONIC MAGAZINE 13 Sivan 5756/31 May 1996
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WE CALL IT A MIRACLE
A great weight has been lifted from our hearts and the sun is shining throughout the Land of
Israel. The Jewish people have chosen a new government. Now we have to start repairing
the damage. To all our readers - Shabbat Shalom and Hag Sameach!
../..../..../..../..../... Mark and Yael Ami-El, Tekoa, Israel
THE JEWISH VOTE
BIBI NETANYAHU (Est) 60%
SHIMON PERES (Est) 40%
THE CHRISTIAN VOTE
The results of a poll conducted by the Mechric Institute, an affiliate of the Middle East
Christian Committee, Sunday, May 26, put together a Christian vote for the first time since
1948 and this is accepted as due to the story about the IDF withdrawal from South Lebanon.
Bibi scored an overwhelming victory in four communities, a slight victory with the Armenians
and won 26% among the Arab orthodox, traditionally pro-PLO.
The highest scores for Netanyahu were obtained among the Marronites (87%), the Assyrians (85%) and the Copts (85%), three groups who are suffering from Islamic Oppression in their countries of origin. Vote (estimated turnout of voters):
Marronites, estimated 5,000-6500
87% Bibi
10% Peres
3% Undecided
Catholics (Roman, Melkites), estimated 20,000-25,000
56% Bibi
30% Peres
14% Undecided
Assyrians, Syrians, estimated 1,500
85% Bibi
10% Peres
5% Undecided
Copts, estimated 300-600
75% Bibi
9% Peres
16% Undecided
Armenians, estimated 1,000-1,500
54% Bibi
42% Peres
4% Undecided
Orthodox, estimated 35,000
26% Bibi
39% Peres
35% Undecided
Evangelicals, estimated 1,000
70% Bibi
28% Peres
2% Undecided
Total votes picked up, approximately 30,000 (International Christian
Embassy../..5/30).
====================================
NEWS AND OBSERVATIONS FROM ISRAEL
Aaron Lerner 2 June, 1996
Reactions to the Netanyahu victory:
"I feel like packing up my suitcases and leaving the country."
- Mrs. Leah Rabin
[Editor's note: Good riddance.]
"The Jewish people decided that Netanyahu is good for the Jews."
- MK Tzachi HaNegbi (Likud)
"Whether we win or lose, we will not agree to a national unity government."
- Labor Party Secretary Nissim Zvilli
"A great thank you to all of the Arab voters!"
- Minister Uzi Baram, when he thought that Peres had won.
*** VOICE OF PALESTINE INTERVIEWED ACTIVISTS CALLING FOR VOTES
The radio station of the Palestinian Authority, "Voice of Palestine", broadcast interviews
with Israeli Arab commentators and politicians during election day calling on the Israeli
Arabs to
vote for Shimon Peres and the Arab parties.
("Haaretz" 30 May, 1996)
*** LABOR PARTY SPREAD RUMORS TO ENCOURAGE ARAB VOTES
The Labor Party spread false rumors in the Arab sector that the Israeli nationalist parties
sent scantily dressed women to the polls to prevent traditional Arabs from voting. They
hoped the rumors would encourage the voters to come out.
("Haaretz" 30 May, 1996)
*** SEATS LOST BY NRP/MOLEDET DUE SMALL PARTIES
The NRP had 240,224 votes [Meretz had 226,257], 7,516 votes shy of a tenth seat. The
religious party, "Telem Emunah", failed to pass the 1.5% minimum, thereby wasting
12,374 votes. Moledet was shy
2,340 votes to get a third seat. The extreme nationalist party, "Yemin Yisrael", wasted
2,844 votes.
("Haaretz' 2 June, 1996)
*** MERETZ TRICKED WORKERS TO RETURN CHECKS
Under the rules, poll observers are paid checks of NIS 540 by the party which they
represent. Meretz told its observers to endorse the checks and return them. Activist
Gadi Golan, who observed the polls for Meretz, complained that he did not know that
when he was asked to endorse the back of his paycheck that Meretz was taking back
the money.
("Haaretz" 2 June, 1996)
*** SHAS VOTERS LIED TO POLLSTERS
Pollster Mina Tzemach was aware that Shas voters were lying to pollsters and
claiming to plan to vote for other parties and at one point even asked Shas leader
Arieh Deri that he ask Rabbi Ovadiah Yoseph to instruct his followers not to lie to
pollsters.
("Yediot Ahronot" 31 May, 1996)
** ORA NAMIR: I FEEL GREAT
"I feel great, and that's all."
Ora Namir speaking from her new ambassadorial post in Beijing after hearing that
her Party lost the elections
("Haaretz" 31 May, 1996)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Aaron Lerner, Associate IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(POB 982 Kfar Sava) Tel 972-9-904719/Fax 972-9-911645
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
============================================================
THE 14TH KNESSET
JERUSALEM (2 June) Below is the final composition of the 14th Knesset, following the count of
all the votes. (c) Jerusalem Post 1996
Labor (34 seats):
