03-13-2015, 11:44 AM
He Who Would be King
The March 17th Israeli election is reportedly a closer contest than any other in Israeli politics.
The way that ruling-power is decided in Israel is interesting to me.
Israelis elect what is the equivalent of our Congress (the Legislative branch of the government, called the Knesset there) during a national election held every 4 years. Unlike in the US, there is not a separate election for Prime Minister, who will have the Executive authority over Israel.
Next, the President of Israel (head of state, largely a ceremonial position) invites the leader of the party which got the most votes/seats to form a coalition government which encompasses all of the parties which won votes/seats in the election. If that leader -- in this month's Israeli elections, it will either be Netanyahu for right-wing Likud or Zerhog for center/left-wing Zionist Union -- can't get the required support from the various parties in 30 days, the President can extend the deadline by two weeks or invite the runner-up to form a coalition government under the same parameters.
![[Image: 680260b6-ef6b-4cb5-a550-3d1b9f805eda_zpszvptlalz.png]](http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s500/HairOfTheDog1337/680260b6-ef6b-4cb5-a550-3d1b9f805eda_zpszvptlalz.png)
Zionist Union leads Likud in 12 March 15 voter polls
Like the US -- and as reflected in above chart -- there are parties on the right (mostly aligned with Netanyahu), parties on the left (mostly aligned with Herzog), and some smaller central or narrower parties whose leaders aren't in the running for the PM role. Those smaller parties, however, can play a key role in deciding who will lead the country and how, when an election is really close and the winning party's leader needs to drum up support in order to meet the coalition requirements to become Prime Minister.
If the election were held today, the Zionist Union wold defeat Likud, and Herzog would be invited to form a governmental coalition. If enough Likud members and other right-wing party members refused to cooperate and join his proposed coalition (staying loyal to only Netanyahu, at all costs), Bibi could be invited to try to form a coalition instead and ultimately maintain his position as Prime Minister.
Netanyahu's campaign has focused heavily on national security -- primarily in relation to preventing a nuclear attack by Iran and continuing to keep Gaza and the West Bank Palestinians confined under current occupational restrictions. He told Israelis that his speech at the US Congressional meeting was only to secure their safety, and not a campaigning effort. But, when his party started slipping in the polls again, his campaign ads switched to him in front of the US Congress (his party's projected seats haven't increased as a result).
Herzog's campaign has focused on improving the domestic economy, resuming negotiations with Palestine for a two-state or alternate solution, scaling back on globally-condemned settlement construction in the West Bank, and improving tense existing relationships with the US, Europe and other western allies. Some members of Likud have expressed a willingness to work with Herzog under a united coalition if his party wins the election.
It'll be very interesting to see the election results after Israelis go to the polls on Tuesday. If Netanyahu loses his Prime Minister role, it will have a significant impact on international relations across the region and for several countries, IMO.
The March 17th Israeli election is reportedly a closer contest than any other in Israeli politics.
The way that ruling-power is decided in Israel is interesting to me.
Israelis elect what is the equivalent of our Congress (the Legislative branch of the government, called the Knesset there) during a national election held every 4 years. Unlike in the US, there is not a separate election for Prime Minister, who will have the Executive authority over Israel.
Next, the President of Israel (head of state, largely a ceremonial position) invites the leader of the party which got the most votes/seats to form a coalition government which encompasses all of the parties which won votes/seats in the election. If that leader -- in this month's Israeli elections, it will either be Netanyahu for right-wing Likud or Zerhog for center/left-wing Zionist Union -- can't get the required support from the various parties in 30 days, the President can extend the deadline by two weeks or invite the runner-up to form a coalition government under the same parameters.
Zionist Union leads Likud in 12 March 15 voter polls
Like the US -- and as reflected in above chart -- there are parties on the right (mostly aligned with Netanyahu), parties on the left (mostly aligned with Herzog), and some smaller central or narrower parties whose leaders aren't in the running for the PM role. Those smaller parties, however, can play a key role in deciding who will lead the country and how, when an election is really close and the winning party's leader needs to drum up support in order to meet the coalition requirements to become Prime Minister.
If the election were held today, the Zionist Union wold defeat Likud, and Herzog would be invited to form a governmental coalition. If enough Likud members and other right-wing party members refused to cooperate and join his proposed coalition (staying loyal to only Netanyahu, at all costs), Bibi could be invited to try to form a coalition instead and ultimately maintain his position as Prime Minister.
Netanyahu's campaign has focused heavily on national security -- primarily in relation to preventing a nuclear attack by Iran and continuing to keep Gaza and the West Bank Palestinians confined under current occupational restrictions. He told Israelis that his speech at the US Congressional meeting was only to secure their safety, and not a campaigning effort. But, when his party started slipping in the polls again, his campaign ads switched to him in front of the US Congress (his party's projected seats haven't increased as a result).
Herzog's campaign has focused on improving the domestic economy, resuming negotiations with Palestine for a two-state or alternate solution, scaling back on globally-condemned settlement construction in the West Bank, and improving tense existing relationships with the US, Europe and other western allies. Some members of Likud have expressed a willingness to work with Herzog under a united coalition if his party wins the election.
It'll be very interesting to see the election results after Israelis go to the polls on Tuesday. If Netanyahu loses his Prime Minister role, it will have a significant impact on international relations across the region and for several countries, IMO.