Post Election Analysis with Sammy Tisser from Israel

Well, yesterday was election day in Israel. Uh Sammy Tissot, who is an American journalist and uh moved from Long Island to Jerusalem. And if I have the story straight, he's voting not only yesterday, but in the American election next week as well. He'll let us know. Samuel Tissot is with us live via telephone from Israel for a little bit of post-election analysis and uh in our attempt to get a feel of how yesterday went. Pleasure to welcome you to JM in the AM. >> Hi. It's nice to thank you for having me. >> Uh what did you feel the um the turnout yesterday? I don't know where you voted, you know, what area of the country or city, but was it palpable in the state of Israel yesterday to the average person that there was a rush for over 70% of the pop of the voting public to get to the polls? >> Well, you know, that's say, you know, I went to the poll yesterday 7:30 in the morning. I didn't feel as busy early in the morning, but it we have 70% of the vote, which is the record amount in all elections since uh since since 70 since 70 in Israel. However, the complicated thing is how many Jews voted. We have a large majority of the people that voted looks like were Arabs. And what people [snorts] are very well concerned about is Arabs joining the next government, which is a big issue with how people are are seeing how the next government's going to look with who's going to work with the people going to work with the Arabs or as someone going to make a coalition, because that's kind of it's complicated here. It's really what I'm that's uh the Arabs going to have to join the next government, because it looks like the majority of the people that voted yesterday were Arabs and not Jews. >> And >> you mean the majority of people who voted yesterday? What does that mean? The majority the majority of the majority The majority >> I I there were uh there were there were Jewish towns that were had a small percentage of voting, but then there were Arab towns that had >> Okay. >> voting uh voting >> So okay, so it's a So we have to say it a little bit differently. In other words, the voting population, obviously the majority was Jewish, but you're saying in specific places >> would say a lot of the record amounts that went out to vote were mostly Arab towns. >> No, I get that. Okay, but still the majority of voters obviously were Jewish. >> I mean it it's it's a little complicated here. It looks like you know you know it still it's still very uncertain though. A lot of the ballots are still out, but it does look like the records were from Arab towns. And it's Everyone's saying Everyone's saying the record amount were out yesterday and it looks like a big percentage were Arab towns. And a lot of Jews went out to vote. So I was in Jerusalem here, there was a very low voter voter turnout, it looks like. A very very low voter turnout in the capital of the country. Very very low voter turnout here. >> Hm, interesting. All right, that that's a figure that we'll pay pay very close attention to over the next couple of days because I I think what you're saying either has to be confirmed or not confirmed. Samuel Tissell is an American journalist is in Israel. Was this the first time you voted in Israel? You've done it before. >> This is my first time and you know I was asked yesterday in another interview, I was like and I'm not married and I'm young and someone asked me "What do you see as a as a goal of mine?" And I want to have to see long-term security in this country. And you know as as I want to grow a family here, I want to have a family and I want I want to teach our children, you know, with with with anti-Semitism rising around the world and and ally rights are skyrocketing. And a question that people, you know, really want to ask for what is the biggest priority What is the biggest priority? And I think it's long-term security. >> [snorts] >> Because once you have long-term security, people will people will people will have to create a life here because security also includes economical security. And once that is in place, people will be well be able to actually create a life here cuz the the rates are high, but the question is what amount of people are actually staying here cuz they can they actually afford a life here. So once you have long-term security, more people will actually be able to create a life here. >> Yeah, I would think that the majority of people would answer the same uh would answer the same thing to that question in terms of security being paramount uh for the citizens for the future of the state of Israel. What do you think of the aftermath? We've got almost 85% of the ballots counted. Um what do you think will happen now in terms of the formation of a government? >> See, you know, I was asked asked about uh recently about Trump's endorsement and you know, uh of course as it looks like Netanyahu is going to have majority. However, it accordingly what's going to happen is that he would like that that Netanyahu not include Ben-Gvir and Smotrich in his next government. And if that happens, I mean that that's going to cause our issues and then there may have to be a unity government with the uh with the opposition, which is going to be I would uh rather see how he puts it into play. Um cuz originally, you know, that it was going to show that Isaac Herzog was going to get a majority, but then of course it it flipped. But also a thing is we have 30 different parties here, which is much complicated because people didn't vote for the smaller parties which don't get in and then the votes go to the other parties which are all wasted votes. So it's a really complicated situation here cuz if you were if you were in America, don't I don't think you understand how it actually works here because in America, you vote for you vote you vote Republican Democrat or maybe independent. Here, there's 30 different types of options. And if you vote for someone like let's say Ofer Winter who is has just over 1% of the vote and you need 3.25% to actually get into the to get a seat. If you get 3.25%, you automatically get four seats. Um and a lot of people vote for small parties which then gives the the uh mandate to the others to the other the to it's a waste of vote. >> Yeah, we get that. In fact, I'm wondering if that's why the larger parties did so well this time around because people were really careful in an election that as was perceived to be as vital as it was perceived, uh they didn't want to quote unquote waste their votes. I guess that also that attitude harmed the smaller parties as well. >> I mean, you know, with a larger voter turnout that also mean that also affects the smaller parties. If there was a smaller turnout, then the larger parties maybe had more more possibility of getting in. Last night I was at the I was at the event last night of Ofer Winter in Tel Aviv and uh and I was there and you know, I saw the the reaction. I saw the reaction is that >> How was the How was the mood? The mood there must have been awful. >> The mood is is awful, [laughter] but also it's it's the first try. You know, the small party may not get in this time, but in the next election, well, whether that be in 6 months if if if there's a no coalition or in 4 years, will if will will a smaller party be able to get in? Ofer Ofer Winter and and Hamenachem, were they able to get to get into a next to another party in 2 or 4 years? It's a first try and you and you get your name out and in four in the next election, someone might have a chance to get in. >> Yeah, no question. Uh did you vote in the United States yet or are you flying in to do that? >> I hope to vote absentee. I will not be flying to the United States to vote uh but I as Unfortunately, you can vote absentee if you're in if you're an Israeli abroad as which a lot of people did here and a lot of people are concerned about by the way in Israel is that you can vote you you can't vote absentee. Only diplomats can vote absentee. And uh so fortunately, I'm able to vote absentee for the for the US. So uh I'll be voting for >> So you'll So you'll be you'll be voting for New York governor. >> I will be voting for New York governor. I'm very excited to uh hopefully have uh Bruce Blakeman coming into power and uh hopefully he's fixing up New York >> Well, well, if you >> It's going to be It's a very close election right now. >> Be careful. If you vote for Hokel you can't vote for Bibi. She made it clear. >> [laughter] >> And you know A lot of people are concerned about Bibi as well as being also in power for so long. That's that's another question but as I said Bruce Blakeman is you know he's represented me on Long Island and he's a very amazing he's great and he's great I really support him on Long Island and I think he can be a great as governor. >> Yeah, no I agree with you. It's a shame he's so far behind but I agree with you on that. Samuel Tiser an American journalist who had this unique experience >> [snorts] >> of voting in Israel for the first time and within days will be voting absentee for New York State while he's in Israel. I appreciate your your reactions everything that went on yesterday and thanks so much for joining us this morning. >> Thank you Norson. >> More coming up. You're listening to a Wednesday morning edition of JM in the AM.