Understanding Israel's Political Parties: From Bibi to Abbas

Summary

Israeli politics is deeply fragmented and shaped by diverse social, religious, and ethnic divisions. The country’s proportional representation system leads to frequent coalition governments, with parties constantly shifting based on personalities rather than ideology. Key divides include Jewish vs. Arab citizens, religious vs. secular Jews, and right-wing vs. left-wing politics. Benjamin Netanyahu's long tenure and his legal troubles have led to polarized blocs, often overshadowing traditional left-right divisions. While security and religious policies dominate, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict no longer solely defines political affiliations, making Israel’s political landscape complex and ever-changing.

Takeaways

• 😀 Israel's political system is based on proportional representation, where parties gain seats based on the percentage of votes they receive.
• 😀 No party in Israel has ever gained a majority in the Knesset, meaning coalition governments are required to form a government.
• 😀 The political landscape in Israel is highly fragmented, with parties often splitting, merging, and forming around charismatic leaders.
• 😀 Israeli politics is shaped by deep tribal divisions, including ethnic (Jewish and Arab) and religious (secular, traditional, Haredi) identities.
• 😀 The Arab population, around 20% of Israel’s citizens, is represented by two main parties: The Joint List and Ra’am, with different ideologies on governance and Israel’s Jewish character.
• 😀 The Haredi Jewish community is represented by parties like Shas (Mizrahi Jews) and United Torah Judaism (Ashkenazi Jews), both advocating for religious conservatism and maintaining the religious status quo.
• 😀 Secular and traditional Jews are divided across right-wing (Likud) and left-wing (Meretz, Labor) parties, with a focus on issues like security, economy, and religion-state relations.
• 😀 Benjamin Netanyahu has been Israel’s dominant political figure for over 15 years, shaping policy around security, the economy, and Israel’s global standing, though his leadership is controversial due to corruption charges.
• 😀 The political divide in Israel has shifted from left vs. right to pro- and anti-Netanyahu blocs, with many parties focusing on Netanyahu’s leadership rather than ideological differences.
• 😀 While the Israeli-Palestinian conflict once defined the left-right divide, it is no longer the central issue in elections, as security concerns and Netanyahu’s leadership dominate the political discourse.

Q & A

What does the term 'tribal politics' mean in the context of Israel?

In Israel, 'tribal politics' refers to the divisions within society based on ethnicity, religion, and geography, which heavily influence voting patterns. These divisions include categories such as Jewish vs. Arab, religious vs. secular, and right-wing vs. left-wing.

Why is it difficult to predict how someone will vote in Israel?

It's difficult to predict voting behavior in Israel because of the country's highly fragmented political system. People are influenced by various factors such as ethnicity, religion, and personal affiliations, leading to a wide range of party options and frequent changes in the political landscape.

How does Israel's electoral system work?

Israel uses a proportional representation system, where parties win seats in the Knesset based on the percentage of the vote they receive. A party that gets 10% of the vote earns 10% of the 120 seats, with candidates selected from their party list. This system promotes representation for diverse groups, but no party has ever gained a majority, requiring coalition governments.

Why is Israel's political system described as one of the most representative in the world?

Israel's proportional representation system allows for small political parties and diverse groups, including minorities, to have a voice in the Knesset. This ensures that even smaller factions are represented, unlike in systems where votes for losing candidates are discarded.

What is the role of coalition governments in Israel?

Because no party in Israel has ever won a majority, coalition governments are formed. The prime minister is typically from the largest party, but other key positions, such as foreign and defense ministers, may be held by members of smaller parties. This system requires compromise and negotiation.

How do Israeli voters often make decisions during elections?

Israeli voters often make decisions based on a combination of social and cultural identity factors. For example, whether a person is Jewish or Arab, secular or religious, or comes from Tel Aviv or a small town can heavily influence which party they support.

How do Arab political parties in Israel differ in their goals?

The Joint List represents a more ideologically opposed stance, advocating for the rights of Israel's Arab minority and an end to Israel's military control of the West Bank. Ra'am, on the other hand, is more pragmatic, seeking to collaborate with the governing coalition and focusing on issues like reducing crime in Arab communities.

What are the key differences between Shas and United Torah Judaism?

Shas represents the Mizrahi Haredi community, prioritizing traditional religious values and welfare support for large families. United Torah Judaism represents Ashkenazi Haredi Jews and opposes changes to the religious status quo, including conscripting Haredi men into the army and changes to religious laws.

Why has the left-wing in Israel, including parties like Meretz and Labor, become less influential?

The left-wing has lost influence due to factors like the failure of the peace process, changing demographics, and shifting security concerns. The failure of peace talks and Israel's withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 led many Israelis to lose hope in the possibility of a Palestinian partner for peace.

How has Benjamin Netanyahu influenced Israeli politics?

Benjamin Netanyahu has been the dominant figure in Israeli politics for over a decade. As leader of Likud, he has shaped the country's direction on security, the economy, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His influence has created a political divide in Israel between pro-Netanyahu and anti-Netanyahu factions, transcending traditional left-right distinctions.

What role does personality play in Israel's political system?

In Israel, political parties are often formed around charismatic leaders rather than fixed ideologies. This means that personalities, like Netanyahu's, play a significant role in determining political alignments and party allegiances, leading to frequent shifts and mergers in the political landscape.