By Ted Belman
The Times of Israel has published a very detailed poll by a very experienced pollster. It shows a totally different race than what we are believing in.
31% of the voters are undecided and according to him leaning to labour. Most polls distribute the undecideds on a pro rata basis to get the race as we understand it. But if you distribute them based on leanings the result is entirely different.
However, detailed, the thrust of the poll, the stats and their analysis come off as just so much more skewed, left leaning editorializing in the guise of objectivity. Before the PM called for elections most honest polls reflected and bolstered the trends represented by the “constituency” of the current government. Gaza rockets and the political maneuvering by Abbas & the PA in the International arena, followed by Israel’s aggressive restraint, if anything, would more likely serve to solidify the identification of these so-called “undecided” voters with the broad policies of the Center-Right and who, until this poll have not numbered amongst Labour’s current Yechimovitch-led “triumphs”, whatever they might be. It’s hard to put much stock in this new light for the Left.
The Times of Israel is generally Left leaning. This is really no more that electioneering. The reason there is such a large undecided group in Israel is that many Israelis are too polite to just hang up on the pollsters. So they say they are undecided. What is important are objective events that reflect the nature of the population. The fact that all the Left wing newspapers in Israel are broke and closing indicates more about the nature of Israel than any poll.
The misreading of the polls happened in the US 2 months ago!!!!!
One guy got it right.
But IL is not the US.
@ yamit82:
I should point out the Left can’t even agree on who should be Prime Minister and they don’t have a program any one likes.
There’s been no talk about the “peace process” in this election because people don’t expect any breakthrough with the Arabs.
Nothing is going to change over the next four years – not enough to get people to elect a government led by an opposition party.
NO SALE!!!!
David Horowitz is a leftist past Labor supporter and this poll reflects his agenda.
American pollsters have a lousy track record in Israel and Israelis have a habit of lying to pollsters especially the voters identifying with the right. 800 responses maybe larger than 500 but how much more can another 300 add to accuracy?
A high % of voters to the left are middle age and over and if in all polls the Likud and BB is picked to win and form the next government the incentive for many in this group is lessened than what it’s been in the past. I submit a high % of young voters who do not support or vote for the right will stay home on election day.
I see no election excitement in this election and no burning national issue to move anyone in any direction.
The Likud will still win but Labor would be the second strongest party and Jewish Home will be the third.
Most parties are fighting it out though for votes from their supporters rather from the center of the electorate. The divisions on the Left is even more severe than those on the Right.
Should Netanyahu win re-election, he can thank Tzipi Livni and Yair Lapid for ensuring Labor does not pose a significant threat to his bid for a third term.