Politics

HA'ARETZ
1. DRAMATIC ACHIEVEMENT FOR YAIR LAPID; DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE LIKUD
Elections that had been portrayed as relatively sleepy end in surprise. According to television exit polls, Netanyahu's strength was significantly weakened and his ability to form a stable right-wing government is limited. Slight rise in turnout to 66.6%.

2. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS USE PUBLIC HOLIDAY FOR SHOPPING AND DAYTRIPS

MA'ARIV

1. RIGHT WEAKENED, BLOW TO NETANYAHU, THE BIG WINNER: YAIR LAPID

(…). Assessment: Lapid will be senior partner in Netanyahu-led government. PM: "I will work to form broad government." Lapid: "Together, we can deal with anything." Yachimovich: "There is a chance we will wake up and the Likud will be unable to form a government."


YEDIOT AHRONOT
1. Israel wants change.
BLOW TO NETANYAHU, JUMP FOR LAPID
(…).

YISRAEL HAYOM
1. LAPID SURPRISE, LIKUD DISAPPOINTMENT

Numbers may change slightly; however, this is the picture: Blow to Likud Beytenu – but Netanyahu will form his third government. Biggest surprise: Yesh Atid – second largest party. Achievements for Labor, Jewish Home and Meretz. Disappointment for Livni. Shas and United Torah Judaism and the Arab parties maintain their strength.


2. NETANYAHU: "I WILL FORM THE BROADEST POSSIBLE GOVERNMENT"

PM already telephoned Yair Lapid last night. (…).


WALLA!
1. LAPID TAKES TEL AVIV AND RA'ANANA, HAIFA WITH THE LIKUD
With 99% of the votes counted, Yesh Atid leads in Herzliya and Ramat Hasharon. Likud Beytenu wins in Be'er Sheva and Kiryat Shemona. Labor ahead in kibbutzim.

2. FORMING A GOVERNMENT TO WAIT: PERES LEAVING FOR SWITZERLAND AT THE WEEKEND
President leaving tomorrow for Davos economic conference and upon his return will begin preparations ahead of deciding whom to ask to form a government. Faction leaders to go to his office only after January 30.

NANA10

1. ASSESSMENT: FIGURING IN SOLDIERS' VOTES TO ADD SEAT TO JEWISH HOME AND RAISE IT TO 12


2. APPARENT: NETANYAHU TO OFFER DEFENSE AND EDUCATION TO YESH ATID


3. NETANYAHU TO MAKE IT CLEAR TO LIBERMAN: NOT MANY POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR YISRAEL BEYTENU MEMBERS


SUMMARY OF OP-EDS FROM THE HEBREW PRESS

All three papers discuss various issues regarding the provisional results of yesterday's elections for the 19th Knesset<http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Modern+History/Historic+Events/Elections_in_Israel_January_2013.htm>:

Yediot Ahronot suggests, "Had Netanyahu not saved himself by joining the Likud with Yisrael Beytenu, yesterday we would have seen the ouster of a prime minister the likes of which we have not seen here since Netanyahu was sent packing in 1999," and asserts, "At best, he finished the elections as a weak prime minister, the structure of whose coalition will depend on the goodwill of the biggest winner in these elections, Yair Lapid, and with a diluted and shrunken Likud that, according to the results of the exit polls, lost more than 25% of its strength."

Ma'ariv ventures that, "The slogan 'Not with Bibi' worked in reverse this time," and adds, "Whoever broadcast to the public throughout this election campaign that he would go with Bibi – gained." The paper believes, "Lapid and Bennett are Netanyahu's natural partners," and wonders if a Likud Beytenu-Yesh Atid-Jewish Home government would be stable. The author says, "Between a right-center government and the alternative of a narrow government with the ultra-orthodox, it seems that the public's message is clear. It prefers a right-center government."

Yisrael Hayom avers, "The Likud ran a mistake ridden campaign from the minute it joined with Yisrael Beytenu until the failed recruitment of Moshe Kahlon," but adds, "But it still leads its competitors by a wide margin, and this is its last opportunity." The author suggests, "This is what the responsible public wanted: A government that can function while somewhat punishing the ruling party and reducing the influence of the ultra-orthodox," and adds, "A government, whose main axis is Likud Beytenu, Yesh Atid and the Jewish Home, could breathe new life into the public in order to deal with the socio-economic problems and diplomatic issues and somewhat blunt the international criticism. It will also be able to encourage the unavoidable processes of integrating the ultra-orthodox in the employment and security of Israel."

[Sima Kadmon, Amnon Lord and Dan Margalit wrote today’s articles in Yediot Ahronot, Ma'ariv and Yisrael Hayom, respectively.]