The situation in Isreal
 

Well, I don't think this is any news but even if Ariel Sharon survives this stroke, he most likely wont be able to return to power. This throws the peace process into a very uncertain future of course. I would be interested in the considerate opinion of who people think would make a good replacement.

here are a few possibilities:

Benjamin Netanyahu
Shimon Peres: although he has said he's not interested
Ehud Barak, former prime minister
Sharon's right hand man and deputy priime minister Ehud Ohmert

I wont pretend to be any kind of expert on middle east politics, but it would seem to me that moving ahead the peace process would be a good idea. Maybe some of you have other ideas of who would be a good candidate. I'll be intetersted in reading your responses.

david, i'm sorry, but your analysis is almost completely wrong.

first and foremost, currently there is no "peace" and no "process". there are palestinian actions which are triggered by their inability to impose authority in their territories, and israeli actions, that's being orchestrated in washington. to put it simple, you've an american colony governed by condoleeza rice on one side, and total chaos on the other. that's how things stand right now.

secondly; Benjamin Netanyahu is indeed running for prime minister, but his odds are pathetic, he's one the most hated politicians in the country. same goes to ex prime minister Barak, who's not running at all at this point. Shimon Peres is 82 years old, and is guarenteed to become whomever-repalces-Sharon's no. 2, so he's out of the question as well. the 3rd competitor- Amir Peretz, leader of the left front, is also unlikely to win.
as it seems now, sharon's party is bound to win, the question is only who will lead it. the main candidates are (as you mentioned) Ehud Olmert, and Tzipi Livny, who's likely to become israel's second woman prime minister.

Tommer,
if you don't mind me asking are you an American living in Israel or are Israeli? Thanks so much for your insight it's a hell of a lot better than anything given in the media...if you don't me asking also what is your opinion on the situation because I don't know much about it.

1. what makes you think i'm an american? (coz i'm not, i never lived anywhere but here)
2. i'm a lefty, and i consider myself a neo socialist. i oppose the occupation and any other form of human rights violations, but to be honest, i'm not a big believer in the chances of a peaceful coexistence in our area, i think the gaps between the two societies is far too wide to bridge. on one hand you've a rich, western, less religious, democratic society, and on the other you've a poor society, that's fanatically religious, and lacks democratic traditions. as long as the two sides keep thinking in a militarized way, one looking at Washington and the other to Tehran for answers, i can't see a social solution in the near future, the best you can do is to reach a political solution, based on a complete separation between two nations.

No problem. Thank you for correcting me.

Thanks for response and honestly...I have no idea why I thought you'd be American, I guess it's just how I envisage everyone automatically:o

Where is the city youre from. I looked on a map of Australia and for some reason I couldnt find it.:rolleyes:

I'm in Wollongong, on the coast about 90mins south of Sydney, to be specific I'm actually in Horsley which you can actually find on some websites.

You live in Tel Aviv? I have a feeling you do.

Oh ok, I dont know why I cant seem to find it. I'll have to go back and look again.:nod: