Israelis are to vote on the next government in five weeks, but the war against Hamas has shelved campaigning. Pensioners party chairman Rafi Eitan wants a postponement of six weeks. All major parties are opposed to the idea, but an extended battle may change the picture.
Yehadut HaTorah (United Torah Judaism - UTJ) MK Moshe Gafne said, "For the time being, we have postponed our campaign. We have to wait and see in the next few days what will happen. If the war continues, there will be a need to delay the election." 
If the war continues, there will be a need to delay the election.
MK Eitan, Tzomet chairman MK Elchanan Glazer and a relatively unknown party representing young Israelis have appealed to the Knesset Elections Committee to delay the February 10 voting. MK Eitan argued that it is deceptive to allow election campaigning when soldiers are on the battlefield and civilians are in bomb shelters.
The Cast Lead counterterrorist campaign has helped the larger parties maintain their strength, with Labor winning more support at the cost of the smaller parties.
General elections have been postponed only once - during the Yom Kippur War in 1973 in order to maintain national unity. A postponement effort today would involve a complicated and uncertain procedure that would require the support of 61 MKs and possibly 80 MKs to change the Basic Law and allow a dissolved government to continue to stay in power.
MK Eitan's proposal for a vote at the end of March also would cause a legal nightmare for the next government, which legally must pass a budget for the current year by March 31 or face dissolution. His suggested timing would require a coalition to be formed in the record time of several days and then pass an emergency budget.
Kadima leaders maintained that "there is no reason to postpone the elections and no reason to discuss it" for the time being. Similar comments were made by Labor, Shas and Likud leaders.
Israel Is Our Home (Yisrael Beiteinu) spokesmen stated, "This is the time to talk about defeating terror and not about elections."
The rejuvenated National Union party, headed by Israel National News executive director Yaakov (Ketzaleh) Katz and MKs Uri Ariel and Prof. Aryeh Eldad, opposes a delay for two reasons. "We have no faith in this government that agreed to the 'calm' with Hamas that is the reason Grad-type Katyushas are falling in Be'er Sheva. Moreover, we cannot let terrorists determine the country's schedule," a party statement declared.
Meretz claimed that Israel would not be at war if the government would reach a ceasefire agreement with Hamas. All three Arab parties condemned Israel for the war and have opposed pushing back the February 10 date.