Update on Israel’s Election

An article by Frank    No Comments

A couple of days ago, I mentioned that Israel’s election was drawing near. With the election now concluded, how has it played out?

Kadima (Israel’s centrist party) narrowly got the most votes with the right wing Likud party just behind. The win doesn’t mean much for Kadima though as the whole thing is about coalitions and it looks like the right wing block got more seats in the Knesset (parliament).

Now both Tzipi Livni (Kadima leader) and Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud leader) will frantically try and exert their ability to form a coalition as it is now up to the President (Shimon Peres) to determine which has first right to form a government.

It seems that both are trying to woo Yisrael Beiteinu head Avigdor Lieberman. Yisrael Beiteinu gained 15 seats in the election, making them a key to any government coalition. Yisrael Beiteinu is an ultra nationalist party (far right) that Haaretz describes as as “anti-Arab, anti-religious platform”. It looks as though they will be the kingmakers.

Lieberman’s main platform was a call for all citizens (Jewish and Arab) to declare allegiance to the Jewish state or forfeit citizenship – the slogan “Without loyalty, no citizenship” was specifically aimed at the Arab population which stands at about 20% of the total population.

With both major parties declaring victory, it could be a bit of a process before a government is formed, but either way, Israel has made a significant statement in it’s strengthening of parties on the right. Likud is still a young party and has made significant gains since its formation, with this election being no exception.

A shift to the right and the decrease in the influence of the once dominant Labor party (getting only 13 seats) is almost certain to put a damper on any peace talks with the Palestinians and surrounding Arab nations.

It will be worth watching.

For Haaretz coverage of the election, click here.

For a Washington Post podcast analyzing the election, click here.