Israeli Election - A New Mandate
(Signs of the Time - July 1999)
Sometimes it is easier to win an election in Israel than it is to form a government in Israel. The recent Israeli election emphatically proves the point. A total of 14 different and unique political parties have won seats in the latest Israeli election. It is now the job of the one Israel party leader, Ehud Barak, to seek partners, formulate an agenda and consolidate the government. This, in and of itself, is no small task and in actual fact will be impossible to accomplish unless the winning Israel party is willing to compromise on its election promises.
Scorecard
Without a scorecard identifying political parties in Israel, it is difficult if not
impossible to keep them straight. Unlike the North American political landscape (which is
dominated by a few political parties), the Israeli parliament consists of multiple
political parties, each with its own political base and agenda. Following are the unique
agendas and number of seats for each party.
One Israel. Headed by Ehud Barak. A center-left coalition party that includes the former Labor and Gesher parties, 27 seats.
Likud. Headed by Benjamin Netanyahu until his election defeat. A center right-wing party. 19 seats.
Shas. An ultra-Orthodox party, representing poor traditional Sephardic voters. 17 seats.
Meretz. A secular left wing party that favors complete equality for all inhabitants of Israel, a Palestinian state and withdrawal from the settlements and Golan Heights. 9.
Yisrael Ba-aliya. Represents new immigrants, mostly from the Soviet Union. 7.
Center Party. Headed by former Defense Minister Yizhak Shinui. Advocates a liberal, free market economy and separation of religion and state. 6.
National Religious Party. An orthodox, Zionist party supports Jewish settlement in the West Bank. 5.
United Arab List. 5.
United Torah Judaism. Ultra-Orthodox Party. 5.
Yisrael Beiteinu. A Russian immigrant party that sees itself as a coalition of outsiders assailing the elite. 4.
National Unity. Union of the far right parties. 3.
Democratic Front. Arab-Jewish party that supports equal rights for all citizens, establishment of a Palestinian state and communist economic policy. 3.
One Nation. Advocates benefits for workers and pensioners. 2.
Balad. Arab national party. 2.
The Israeli government works on a parliamentary system similar to Canada’s. That is, the Prime Minister does not have executive powers and laws can only be passed by a majority vote in the parliament. A minimum of 61 votes is needed to pass any proposal into law. It can now be appreciated how much must be compromised by the One Israel party in an effort to facilitate a government. The One Israel party must join forces with a minimum of two other political parties (most likely three to four smaller parties) in order to facilitate any form of agreement, including a peace agreement.
Stalled peace plan
It is hoped by many around the world that the new Israeli leader will be able to once
again move forward and invigorate stalled Middle East peace talks. It was reported in the
May 19, 1999, New York Times that US President Bill Clinton spoke with Mr. Barak
immediately after the election encouraging Mr. Barak to get the talks back on target.
According to the Times: "It is Mr. Barak’s desire to restart talks
between Israel and Syria." However, as difficult as it will be for Mr. Barak to
formulate and hold onto a coalition government, it will be more difficult to kick start
the peace process.
According to the Times: "Syria wants Israel to give back the Golan Heights, which were captured in the 1967 war. Israel wants Syria, which effectively controls the Lebanese government, to stop backing the Hezbollah forces that attack Israeli solders in the southern part of Lebanon which Israel occupies because it contends that it needs a security zone to prevent attacks over its borders."
As well, "Mr. Barak reiterated the four points that were the longstanding policy of the Labor party saying that Israel would not return to its pre-1967 borders, that it would not relinquish sovereignty over unified Jerusalem or major Jewish settlements in the West Bank and that it would not permit any modern military force to be physically located between Israel and Jordan."
Despite these obstacles, most world leaders are certain that the peace talks will be rejuvenated and a lasting peace will finally come to the land. King Abdullah of Jordan was quoted by the New York Times as saying: "We’re very, very optimistic, we see eye-to-eye on many issues and we’re taking the peace process forward."
At this juncture it seems improbable that peace will come to the land under the current regime. In order for the peace process to move forward, the Prime Minister-elect must form a coalition government with well-known doves. Unfortunately for Mr. Barak the two political parties trailing behind One Israel are not committed to the peace plan. It will be therefore incumbent on Mr. Barak to convince the new coalition that it is necessary to withdraw from an additional eleven percent of the West Bank in three phases during a 12-week period. Only then will the articles of the Wye accord be met.
It can be concluded that Prime Minister-elect Barak has a formidable task ahead of him in order to procure peace. A coalition government must be formed, peace negotiated and then implemented. Only then will a very temporary peace be effected. As Bible students realize, lasting peace will only come after our Lord’s return when, "He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore" (Isa. 2:4).
George Rayner