Yisrael Ba'aliya leaders and activists were trying to put a positive spin on last night's exit poll results, which showed the party at best retaining the seven seats it won in the previous election, and perhaps even losing one.

There were few, if any, cheers, hugs, or smiles in the cramped auditorium at party headquarters in Tel Aviv when the results were announced. Only No. 3 MK Roman Bronfman was on hand to watch the results, with party head Natan Sharansky still out in the field.

I think we maintained our electoral strength, despite competing parties, he said. And besides, its just a poll, and my estimate is well get seven to eight seats. I really feel thats what well get.

Party activists huddled in the situation room after the initial announcement, which also saw arch rival Yisrael Beiteinu get two seats. Party spokesman David Shechter insisted that we increased our strength by two MKs [two had left to join Yisrael Beiteinu]. We maintained what we have. We proved we are the legitimate voice of the Russian immigrants. I said today wed get seven seats. We proved to our voters we made good on our promises, so they backed us.

Nonetheless, some internal party polls had estimated the party would get as many as nine seats.

Dima Ladajensky, head of the party's information campaign, said, Seven for Yisrael Ba'aliya and two for [Avigdor] Lieberman is reasonable for me. Five

months ago, people said Lieberman would show us, but he really didnt show us anything.

The new immigrants don't take part much in surveys, but we think 6-7 in the survey is 7-8 in reality. If we didn't increase, we didn't increase, but the one who thought hed show us he was stronger turned out to be the fiasco. He insisted that the party's stress on the Interior Ministry was correct, even though Shas appeared to have gained power. I'm convinced it gave us two mandates. I would rather have seven mandates with a leader whose integrity is completely unquestionable than be like Shas and get 15 and have a leader who is going to jail.

Meanwhile, party No. 8 Shlomo Mula was facing a long night to see if he would become the second Ethiopian MK ever. Im an optimist by nature, otherwise I wouldn't have walked 780 kilometers to get to this country, he said.

Asked how it felt to be standing at the Knesset gate, Mula said, I wish I was already on the other side, but I'll wait for the last of the votes to come in with an upbeat attitude.

Previous | Next