Knesset’s opening session offers a preview of the upcoming election campaigns

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took advantage of the opening assembly of the Knesset’s winter session on Monday to try out his campaign stump speech, while Kadima chairman Shaul Mofaz proved he would let no comment slide.

“In less than 100 days, the Israeli people will decide who will lead the country in the face of the most serious security threat since the establishment of the state and the worst economic crisis to hit the world in 80 years,” said Netanyahu. “I believe we owe it to them to point out the changes from four years ago.”

Netanyahu went on to tick off his administration’s achievements one by one — curbing illegal infiltration, maintaining a stable economy during a global recession, raising the Iranian threat to the top of the international agenda — and asked the public to give him and his party a new leadership mandate.

In a speech that was interrupted frequently by catcalls from opposition MKs, Netanyahu also addressed issues like healthcare, transportation, communications reform, housing costs and bureaucracy-cutting measures.

The prime minister also took credit for the return of kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit.”Four years ago I promised the citizens of Israel I would do my best to bring back Gilad Shalit. A year ago last week, we saw that blessed homecoming,” said Netanyahu.

Netanyahu concluded by highlighting his government’s achievements on the security front. “During my term in office we didn’t embark on any unnecessary wars. We did not go to war because we projected strength,” said Netanyahu.”We also significantly reduced the number of terrorist attacks.”

“There is no end to the political spin and mishandling that this government imposed on us,” said opposition chairman and Kadima leader Mofaz in response. “We are going to the ballots because this government failed.”

Mofaz attacked the government for harming the country’s relationship with the US, distancing it from a peace agreement with the Palestinians and abandoning the middle class to special interests. He warned that Israel would become a binational state that is neither Jewish nor democratic unless someone comes to power who cares about reaching an agreement with the Palestinians. “In a few years we will no longer have a Jewish majority and we will become South Africa of the previous century.”

Mofaz said that contrary to Netanyahu’s claims, the government did nothing of substance in its four years in office. “Israel today is more isolated, divided, scared and hungry than it was.”

Mofaz also accused Netanyahu of fear-mongering on the Iran issue, claiming his words did more harm than good.

In a press conference at the Knesset, Labor chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich said that Monday’s assembly marked the opening shot of the elections season, “Which for the first time in years will focus on an ideological battle between two polar worldviews.”

“The elections will be a contest between a the Darwinian capitalistic worldview that sees Israeli society as a jungle, where the middle class gets left behind, and the social-democratic worldview advanced by me and my party,” said Yachimovich.

Earlier, President Shimon Peres urged the candidates to conduct their campaigns with a “guarded tongue” and refrain from behavior that would dishonor the Knesset.
The opening session is likely to be the Knesset’s last, as late Monday MKs were set to vote on a bill dismantling it and leading to early elections on January 22.