by Yoram Ettinger
The political system
The January 22, 2013
Israeli election highlighted the urgent need to overhaul Israel's entire
political system, not just the proportional electoral system.
Thirty-four parties
participated in the proportional election, and 12 parties (including
anti-Israel parties) will be represented in the next unicameral
120-member legislature, the Knesset. The more fragmented the Knesset,
the more difficult it is for the prime minister to establish — and to
manage — the governing multiparty coalition. The Israeli political
system is replete with mid-size and small parties, devoid of any large
parties. Therefore, the political system tends to be volatile and
unmanageable, lending itself to short-lived governments and early
elections.
The proliferation of
political parties reflects voters' frustration with the political
system, which is top heavy on freedom of association and expression, but
very low on accountability — by elected officials — to the constituent.
While voters elect parties, they do not directly elect their
representatives, who are therefore not constrained by an effective
system of checks and balances and separation of powers (e.g.,
legislators are also members of the executive). Loyalty to the leaders
of their parties supersedes loyalty to their constituents.
Hawks vs. Doves
While the January 2013
campaign rarely referred to national security issues, it underlined —
once again — Israel's hawkish majority. The hawkish bloc of
Likud-Beytenu (31 seats), Yisrael Beytenu (12 seats), Shas (11 seats)
and United Torah Judaism (7 seats) is bolstered by Yesh Atid (19 seats)
which owes some of its seats to support by moderate hawks. Yesh Atid's
leader, Yair Lapid, made a commitment — at Ariel University in Samaria —
to maintain Israeli control of the settlement blocs and oppose the
re-partitioning of Jerusalem.
The hawkish Knesset
majority reflects the frustration caused by the 20-year-old Oslo
Process. Most Israelis do not trust the Palestinian Authority and do not
believe in the viability of further concessions to the Palestinians.
The number of Israeli hawks exceeds the number of centrists, which
exceeds the number of doves. The most dovish party (Meretz) is
represented by 6 seats, the mildly dovish Labor by 15 seats and the
centrists Yesh Atid (19) and The Movement (6) by a total of 25 seats.
It's the domestic agenda, stupid!
Irrespective of the
boiling Arab Street and Israel's recent war against Hamas terrorists in
the Gaza Strip, the disillusionment with the "peace process" catapulted
the domestic agenda to dominance.
The Israeli
constituency expects the next governing coalition to forge a domestic
common denominator, notwithstanding deep national security and foreign
policy disagreements among the coalition parties. The key issues that
preoccupy most constituents are the need to prevent a global-like
economic meltdown; carefully manage severe budget cuts; buttress the
middle class; reform the housing market; introduce significant rental
housing; expedite the integration of ultra-Orthodox youth into military
conscription; and overhaul the entire political system. Averting the
threat of a nuclear Iran is the only front-seat national security issue.
The Arab constituent
The traditionally low
turnout of Israeli Arabs during national election derives from their
disillusionment with the preoccupation of the Arab parties with
Israel-bashing, rather than with pressing domestic Arab concerns: crime,
drugs, education, employment and infrastructure. In defiance of the
Arab League which urged Israeli Arabs to vote to weaken the Jewish
state, the Arab turnout was only 57 percent (Jewish turnout was a
disappointing 67%), compared with more than 80% Arab turnout during
municipal elections.
The discrepancy between
rank and file Israeli Arabs on one hand and the Israeli Arab parties on
the other hand is widening as the Israelization process of Israeli
Arabs takes roots. Israeli Arabs are rapidly integrated into Israel's
medical, pharmaceutical, banking, industrial, commercial, agricultural,
cultural, sports and political infrastructures. While many Israeli Arabs
express their frustration by abstention, an increasing number votes for
non-Arab Israeli parties. The relative representation of the Arab
parties (11 out of 120 Knesset members) is substantially lower than
their proportion in the population (18%).
Winners and Losers
"Kick the rascals out"
dominated the January 2013 election and highlighted the major winners,
producing an unprecedented wave of new legislators: around 50 new
Knesset members, a 40% turnover! The 19 members of Lapid's party — all
freshmen — and the 12 members of Bennett's party — mostly freshmen —
represent the new wave sweeping the Knesset.
The Knesset is the youngest ever with a record number of women (26) and settlers (17).
While Prime Minister
Netanyahu will launch his third term in office, he lost 25% of his
party's Knesset representation, reduced to 31 — from 42 — seats.
However, Netanyahu can snatch a victory out of the jaws of defeat by
adhering to the voice of the constituents and forming a domestic-driven
coalition with a game-changing domestic agenda.
Yoram Ettinger
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=3315
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
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