ISRAEL-ELECTION/LIEBERMAN-SETTLERS Israel's FM Lieberman calls Israelis to vote for a Zionist parties like Meretz, Yisrael Beiteinu or Bayit Yehudi

Record ID: 399325

  • Title: ISRAEL-ELECTION/LIEBERMAN-SETTLERS Israel's FM Lieberman calls Israelis to vote for a Zionist parties like Meretz, Yisrael Beiteinu or Bayit Yehudi
  • Date: 17th March 2015
  • Summary: NOKDIM, WEST BANK (MARCH 17, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** ISRAEL'S FOREIGN MINISTER AVIGDOR LIEBERMAN ARRIVES AT POLLING STATION LIEBERMAN VOTING, CASTING BALLOT (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAEL'S FOREIGN MINISTER AVIGDOR LIEBERMAN, SAYING: "Good morning everybody. I call on all citizens of Israel to go out and vote to a Zionist party, it doesn't mat
  • Embargoed: 1st April 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA3CEKESVKE0ZXQ7YQ3FR2J7RXU
  • Story Text: Israel's foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman cast vote in his home settlement in West Bank on Tuesday (March 17).
    "I call on all citizens of Israel to go out and vote to a Zionist party, it doesn't matter whether it is Meretz or Yisrael Beiteinu or Bayit Yehudi, the most important thing is to go out and vote for a Zionist party. Because it is important to keep the Jewish, Zionist character of the state of Israel. Thank you very much and good luck," said Lieberman after casting ballot.
    This statement comes somewhat surprising as the left-wing Meretz party belongs to the other side of the political spectrum.
    The Moldovan-born politician heads the ultranationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party, which ran jointly with Likud in the 2013 election.
    Polls predict he will win only five or six seats as his support base, immigrants from the former Soviet Union, integrate more into Israeli society and turn to other parties.
    His controversial policies include imposing a loyalty oath on Israel's Arab minority and trading Israeli-Arab towns to any future Palestinian state for territory in the occupied West Bank where Jewish settlements have been built.
    The Israeli Resident from the settlement, Meir Antro, said that he hopes a strong government will be formed.
    "I hope that the strong national and liberal government will be formed that will include both Likud and Bennett which is the most positive forces in our country and together they can move to the better future," said Meir Antro.
    "I expect that we will win this election, that Lieberman will take as many mandates (parliamentary seats) needed to get into the government, to be defence minister, Lieberman, to promote everything we need in this country," said Boris another settler from the settlement.
    Nokdim is located south of Bethlehem in the northern Judean hills.
    On June 30, 2014, according to the Yesha Council, 382,031 Jewish settlers lived in the 121 officially recognised settlements in the West Bank, over 300,000 Israelis lived in settlements in East Jerusalem and over 20,000 lived in settlements in the Golan Heights.
    Israeli Interior Ministry published figures in January 2015 showing that 389,250 Israeli settlers lived in the West Bank and a further 375,000 in East Jerusalem 121 officially recognised settlements.
    The international community considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem illegal.
    Palestinians hope to make a future state in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. They accuse Israel of building settlements to strengthen its claim on territories captured in the 1967 Middle East War.
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