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https://theconversation.com/stark-choice-for-israel-as-voters-head-to-polls-for-fourth-time-in-two-years-157437>
"This deep political rift has pitted two camps against each other. On one side
is a secular-oriented centrist and left-leaning group of parties which have
vowed not to help Netanyahu form a government. On the other a political cluster
of ultra nationalist and clerical parties committed to Netanyahu. In the four
most recent elections neither of these political blocs obtained the 61 seats
required to form a lasting government.
This standoff is exacerbated by competing visions of the future of Israeli
democracy. The parliamentary bloc supporting the prime minister is comprised of
ultra-orthodox parties – including Shas and United Torah Judaism, and
pro-settler and explicitly racist parties, such as Religious Zionism with whom
Likud has signed a surplus vote-sharing agreement.
Vote-sharing agreements are used widely in Israeli elections and allow parties
to ensure that any extra votes that they win which do not add up to a Knesset
seat, do not go to waste. They allow the transfer of extra votes to another
party through a special agreement, typically signed between political and
ideological partners.
Religious Zionism is led by Bezalel Smotrich, a vehement pro-settler and
anti-gay politician who has stated publicly that he is “a proud homophobe”.
Number three on the list, Itamar Ben-Gvir, is often perceived to be a disciple
of the late far-right racist rabbi Meir Kahane. The vote-sharing agreement
validates Religious Zionism and its blatantly racist anti-Palestinian and
homophobic views, as a legitimate force in Israeli politics.
In contrast, Lapid stated recently he would form a government with the external
support of the Joint List, which combines candidates from three Arab parties.
This is an unprecedented act from a leading Zionist politician during an
election campaign. The contrast between Netanyahu’s illiberal political block,
bent on imposing a majoritarian democracy on Israel’s minorities, and the
progressive political cluster that would grant them greater representation and
recognition, is stark.
The impending elections have once again thrust Israel’s secular-religious
divide into the limelight. Netanyahu’s ultra-orthodox supporting block is
battling to preserve its economic interests and political influence and enhance
its religious purist vision for Israel. The anti-Netanyahu camp embodies the
deep frustrations felt by many Israelis over the disproportionate power wielded
by the religious parties in government and the privileges they afford
ultra-orthodox Jews via child-support benefits and exemptions from military
service."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
