Poll: Likud drops to 9 seats, Kadima on 37
Two weeks after Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced his resignation from the Likud, party numbers are slipping and the party will garner less than 10 mandates in the upcoming elections, according to a Haaretz-Dialog poll released today. The poll, conducted Tuesday and Wednesday, indicates that Likud will muster only nine mandates, as 66 percent of individuals who voted for Likud in 2003 say they will vote for Sharon in the March 28 elections, while only 16 percent say they will vote for Likud again. It should be noted that Likud, unlike Labor and Kadima, has yet to elect its chairman, which may account for its low showing in the polls. The poll indicates that Kadima, headed by Sharon, is gaining more momentum and will garner 37 seats, while Labor is holding steady at 26 mandates. Shinui is likely to tumble down to only five mandates, as most of its voters seem to be moving to Kadima. Shas will slip to 10 seats, losing one to Labor. Yisrael Beiteinu, headed by Avigdor Lieberman, is set to attain six mandates; Meretz is expected to lose two seats to Labor, and will slip to four; United Torah Judaism will garner six mandates; National Religious Party and National Union will attain nine seats, and the Arab parties will hold steady at eight mandates.
PM: Israel part of world efforts to stop nuclear Iran
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon stressed today that Israel is watching with growing concern Iran's efforts to achieve nuclear capabilities, and that this situation is unacceptable by Israel, Haaretz reported. Speaking at the editors' convention in Tel Aviv, Sharon said, however, that "Israel is not spearheading the international struggle against Iran's nuclear arming." The danger posed by Iran "does not relate only to Israel; it risks Israel, Middle Eastern countries and many other countries around the world. Therefore the efforts led by the U.S. today must include free countries that understand this grave danger," the prime minister said. "I said Israel should not lead these efforts, but it is certainly in close coordination with the countries that run this battle," he stressed. In relation to other issues, the prime minister made it clear the Likud party may find a place in a future government he would lead. Sharon said the West has the military capabilities to handle Iran, but "before anyone decides on a military step, every effort would be made to pressure Iran to halt this activity. It seems to me such efforts can be fruitful," he said. "I also accept what U.S. President said, that Iran's nuclear capabilities cannot be taken off the agenda. It is very much in the center of our attention, and I hope this activity would also bring things to a point whereby Iran faces the UN Security Council and this grave danger is handled."
MK Yossi Sarid to announce resignation
One of the Knesset's most senior and experienced members MK Yossi Sarid (Meretz-Yahad) is expected to announce his resignation from the Knesset and retirement from political life, Israel's leading newspaper, YNET reported. According to the report, Sarid will hold a press conference in Tel Aviv Friday to publicly announce his decision. Sarid has been toying with the idea for some time now and in recent months the issue has been raised on more than one occasion, especially after Labor MKs Avraham Shochat and Amram Mitzna announced their resignation several weeks ago. Furthermore, following the election of Yossi Beilin as Meretz party leader it was clear that Sarid would not remain in the party for much longer. Yossi Sarid unofficially retired after the previous elections, former Meretz Chairman Shulamit Aloni said in response to the senior party member's expected announcement. "He announced his withdrawal from leadership after the last elections, and since then has operated within Meretz as a separate faction, so his resignation comes as no surprise. He already stopped leading a long time ago, " Aloni said. "His decision to take up teaching after so many years is a good one. It has been said before - there is no man who cannot be replaced," she added.
Jewish Agency poll shows aliyah getting easier
As opposed to popular perception, a new poll shows that the aliyah process for North American Jews is a much less daunting ordeal than previously thought, The Jerusalem Post reported. Representatives of 402 households consisting of 1,464 individuals who made aliyah during the 12-month period from the beginning of September 2004 until the end of August 2005, were polled in the survey, which was carried out by Dr. Mina Zemach of the Dahaf Institute. A large majority of 93 percent of the interviewees expressed a high level of satisfaction with their absorption in Israel. Seventy-four percent said that they would recommend making aliyah to others. The amount of economic assistance one receives is a critical factor in ensuring successful aliyah, and here too interviewees expressed a great deal of satisfaction. Eighty percent of the new olim said they had received substantial assistance from organizations such as government ministries, the Jewish Agency and, or Nefesh BeNefesh, while 84% of the olim received assistance of some kind in the aliyah process. Nonetheless, the survey results confirm that employment is a central component in successful absorption and that a comprehensive effort is required to improve the assistance provided to olim in this area.
Economic & High-Tech Briefs
A Virginia incentives program has selected four Israeli medical device companies for economic and business support: Biological Signal Processing Ltd. (BSP), Medibell Medical Vision Technologies Ltd., Nicast Ltd., and Venousonics Ltd, GLOBES reported. The Virginia program aims at attracting young, interesting companies to operate in the state. The selected companies will be eligible for $100,000 grants from Virginia-Israel Advisory Board (VIAB) for setting up U.S. representative offices in Virginia, and for $1.2 million in financing from a Southwest Virginia foundation. The companies will also be offered scientific and business support from the Carilion Biomedical Institute (CBI), the investment and development arm of Carilion Health System, the largest health medical organization in Virginia. The Israeli companies will also receive support from the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.
Israel's wine industry making a fortune
Israel's alcoholic beverages and wine industry processed NIS 1.2 billion (USD 255 million) in 2005, marking a 20 percent rise from last year's numbers, YNET reported. According to the recent market research conducted by CIA , the wine market alone is estimated at a cool NIS 800 million (about USD 170 million), a 3 percent increase from the same quarter in 2004. The country's wine industry includes 12 commercial vineyards, five of which process more than 2,000 tons of grapes each year. In addition, there are between 150-200 boutique vineyards - about 90 percent of these vineyards are privately owned, while a few still belong to kibbutzim. Notably, most of the wine produced by the local boutique vineyards is non-kosher, and therefore are not commonly sold only in liquor stores and the vineyards themselves. In general, Israeli wine is high in quality, has a hint of sweetness to it, and is not suitable for aging, as its shelf life is relatively short. The CIA study also revealed a number of facts about Israeli consumers: The average citizen invests an average of NIS 25 (about USD 5) on a bottle of wine, with the majority of purchases being done at the major food chains (70 percent). Moreover, the preferred wine of the average Israeli is red (50 percent); 30 percent find the taste of white wine more to their liking; the survey revealed. The past two years have seen a rise in demand for unique wines, such as Cabernet Frank and Shiraz, according to the survey.
[Today's Israel Line was prepared by Hili Sharon at the Consulate General of Israel in New York]