![Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) leaves the Likud-Yisrael Beitenu headquarters in Tel Aviv January 23, 2013. Hawkish Prime Minister Netanyahu emerged the bruised winner of Israel's election on Tuesday, claiming victory despite unexpected losses to resurgent centre-left challengers. REUTERS/Nir Elias (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR3CTC8](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2013/02/RTR3CTC8.jpg/RTR3CTC8.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=uRJEuZDY)
![Mazal Mualem](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-09/mazal%20book%202.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=28S04G5r)
In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
Mazal Mualem is a columnist for Al-Monitor's Israel Pulse and formerly the senior political correspondent for Maariv and Haaretz. She also presents a weekly TV show covering social issues on the Knesset channel. She is the author of "Cracking the Netanyahu Code" (published 2022). On Twitter: @mazalm3
![Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (C) leaves the Likud-Yisrael Beitenu headquarters in Tel Aviv January 23, 2013. Hawkish Prime Minister Netanyahu emerged the bruised winner of Israel's election on Tuesday, claiming victory despite unexpected losses to resurgent centre-left challengers. REUTERS/Nir Elias (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) - RTR3CTC8](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2013/02/RTR3CTC8.jpg/RTR3CTC8.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=uRJEuZDY)
![Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) speaks with Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor during a Likud party meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem September 20, 2011. Netanyahu leaves for New York on Wednesday to address the United Nations where Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is pursuing a bid for full U.N. membership for a Palestinian state. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR2RL9O](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2013/02/1-RTR2RL9O.jpg/1-RTR2RL9O.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=ODTDvR2i)
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Mazal Mualem
In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
![U.S. President Barack Obama (R) speaks to Israel's Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor at a plenary session during the Nuclear Security Summit at the Convention and Exhibition Center (COEX) in Seoul March 27, 2012. The man at centre at an unidentified member of the U.S. delegation. REUTERS/Larry Downing (SOUTH KOREA - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY) - RTR2ZXN6](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2013/02/RTR2ZXN6-001.jpg/RTR2ZXN6-001.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=48lhwpXf)
![Mazal Mualem](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-09/mazal%20book%202.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=28S04G5r)
Mazal Mualem
In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
![Israel's Defence Minister and Labour party leader Ehud Barak stands with Minister for Welfare and Social Services Isaac Herzog (R) during a visit to party headquarters in Tel Aviv February 10, 2009. Israelis voted on Tuesday in a tight election race, with right-wing opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu bidding to oust the centrist party of Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni. REUTERS/Gil Cohen Magen (ISRAEL) - RTXBGFP](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2013/02/1-RTXBGFP.jpg/1-RTXBGFP.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=LQAUt6bd)
![Mazal Mualem](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-09/mazal%20book%202.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=28S04G5r)
Mazal Mualem
In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
![Kadima party leader Shaul Mofaz speaks during a news conference in Petah Tikva, near Tel Aviv July 17, 2012. Israel's Kadima party quit Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition on Tuesday in a dispute over drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews into the military, but the government was not expected to collapse because it still had a majority in parliament. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS MILITARY RELIGION) - RTR350Q2](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2013/02/1-RTR350Q2.jpg/1-RTR350Q2.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=JrmfRMP1)
![Mazal Mualem](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-09/mazal%20book%202.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=28S04G5r)
Mazal Mualem
In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
![Hatnua party leader and former foreign minister Tzipi Livni gestures after the swearing-in ceremony of the 19th Knesset, the new Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem February 5, 2013. REUTERS/Uriel Sinai/Pool (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3DDXP](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2013/02/1-RTR3DDXP.jpg/1-RTR3DDXP.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=LVTQu3yu)
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Mazal Mualem
In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
![Israel's President Shimon Peres (2nd L) meets Aryeh Deri (L), Eli Yishai and Ariel Attias (R), leaders of the religious Shas party, at his residence in Jerusalem January 31, 2013. Peres began talks with political parties on Wednesday over who should form a new government and appears certain to ask incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assemble it. REUTERS/Sebastian Scheiner/Pool (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTR3D6U4](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2013/02/RTR3D6U4.jpg/RTR3D6U4.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=cp3MmkvX)
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Mazal Mualem
In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
![Members of the 19th Knesset, the new Israeli parliament, stand as President Shimon Peres arrives to their swearing-in ceremony in Jerusalem February 5, 2013. REUTERS/Uriel Sinai/Pool (JERUSALEM - Tags: POLITICS) - RTR3DDXN](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2013/02/RTR3DDXN.jpg/RTR3DDXN.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=JFe8PL1_)
![Mazal Mualem](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-09/mazal%20book%202.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=28S04G5r)
Mazal Mualem
In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
![Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid (There's a Future) party, leaves the podium after delivering a statement to the media, following his meeting with Israel's President Shimon Peres (unseen) in Jerusalem January 30, 2013. Peres on Wednesday began consultations with political parties over the formation of a new coalition and appears certain to pick incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assemble it. Lapid's new centrist party stormed to second place in last week's election by winning 19 seats. REUTER](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2013/02/RTR3D5U7.jpg/RTR3D5U7.jpg?h=29935e1d&itok=8JeIxKRG)
![Mazal Mualem](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-09/mazal%20book%202.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=28S04G5r)
Mazal Mualem
In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
![Yair Lapid, leader of the Yesh Atid (There's a Future) party, leaves the podium after delivering a statement to the media, following his meeting with Israel's President Shimon Peres (unseen) in Jerusalem January 30, 2013. Peres on Wednesday began consultations with political parties over the formation of a new coalition and appears certain to pick incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assemble it. Lapid's new centrist party stormed to second place in last week's election by winning 19 seats. REUTER](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2013/02/RTR3D5U7.jpg/RTR3D5U7.jpg?h=29935e1d&itok=8JeIxKRG)
![Mazal Mualem](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-09/mazal%20book%202.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=28S04G5r)
Mazal Mualem
In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
![Labour party leader Shelly Yachimovich addresses supporters at her party's headquarters in Beit Berl, north of Tel Aviv January 23, 2013. Hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emerged the bruised winner of Israel's election on Tuesday, claiming victory despite unexpected losses to resurgent centre-left challengers. REUTERS/Amir Cohen (ISRAEL - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS) - RTR3CTBJ](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2013/01/RTR3CTBJ.jpg/RTR3CTBJ.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=CBVbRPxJ)
![Mazal Mualem](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-09/mazal%20book%202.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=28S04G5r)
Mazal Mualem
In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics
![Israeli Foreign Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L), Haif Mayor Amram
Mitzna (C) and Labour party chairman Binyamin Ben-Eliezer attend a
funeral ceremony for former Israeli Foreign Minister Abba Eban in
Herzliya November 18, 2002. Mitzner and Ben-Eliezer will run as
candidates as the Labour party votes for it next leader tomorrow.
REUTERS/Ofer Vaknin
RKR - RTRE13S](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header/public/almpics/2013/01/1-RTRE13S-001.jpg/1-RTRE13S-001.jpg?h=2d235432&itok=e00fNPs-)
![Mazal Mualem](https://www.al-monitor.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/2022-09/mazal%20book%202.jpg?h=55541bb6&itok=28S04G5r)
Mazal Mualem
In Tel Aviv, reporting on politics