Translated material
Return of Begin
The Israeli Likud party has decided
In Israel, yesterday the results of internal party elections in one of the oldest parties, Likud (translated from Hebrew as “consolidation”), became known, which determined the party’s electoral list for the upcoming parliamentary elections on February 10. The first place was previously reserved for 59-year-old former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu; Likud memberschose him back in August 2007 . The elections held on December 8 did not affect Netanyahu’s positions in the party, since they concerned the determination of positions on the list, from number two onwards. Second, third and fourth places on the electoral list were taken by loyal supporters of Netanyahu's policies: 42-year-old head of the Likud faction in the Knesset Gideon Sa'ar, 38-year-old Gilad Erdan and 69-year-old Reuven Rivlin.Among the other people discussed on the Likud list is 55-year-old Benny Begin, the son of the legendary Israeli politician, the sixth Prime Minister of Israel (1977-1983) Menachem Begin. In 1996, Begin Jr., now in fifth place, served as science minister, but in January 1997 he left the government in protest against the policies of then Prime Minister Netanyahu, although today he hardly criticizes him. Former Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, 50, who has been Benjamin Netanyahu's biggest critic within his own party, came in sixth place.
As for Russian-speaking party members, 50-year-old Yuli Edelshtein took 12th place on the election list, and 37-year-old Zeev Elkin, a former member of the Kadima party, took 21st place on the list. Both of them are likely to enter the 18th Knesset, but are unlikely to occupy ministerial positions.
Polls predict Likud will win more than 30 seats in the Knesset. There are a total of 120 members in the Israeli parliament; in the last elections, which took place in March 2006, Likud received only 12 seats in parliament. If the forecasts come true, then Netanyahu will again lead the government, and Likud will become the party in power. Then Benny Begin will again be able to claim the post of Minister of Science.