Netanyahu Forms Huge Coalition

“When we went to bed on May 7th, we thought we would be going to elections in September. Now, all that is history,” said many. Political stability on an almost unprecedented level is now in place, at least until October 2013. The deal between the two right-wing centrist parties included a contract, which outlined the major issues that would be dealt with, and an agreement not to bring down the government before the end of the term.

The deal was only made possible by the fact that the former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Shaul Mofaz won the Kadima leadership election in April after replacing Tzippi Livni. Livni was determined not to join the coalition after having lost her bid for the premiership. Her inability to form a coalition and the subsequent success of Netanyahu was a sore spot from which she apparently was unable to move past. This coalition is actually a natural partnership, since many Kadima Knesset members were originally from the Likud party until Ariel Sharon split the party and formed Kadima.

Coalition demands had made it quite difficult for Netanyahu to move ahead with new legislation. The demands of the smaller parties were often issued with ultimatums and the threat of pulling down the coalition if they weren’t met. Now—with a large, more pragmatic, and centrist coalition—Netanyahu will be able to move forward to tackle issues that include trying to settle the Palestinian impasse, the economy, the contentious issue of the ultra-Orthodox and their draft exemptions, as well as possible electoral reform.

It is proposed that a new electoral system will be used in the next general election. One idea being considered would result in the reduction of power of the small parties. Probably the threshold of votes will be increased before any party can enter the Knesset. We hope that there will also be more direct and local representation in the Knesset, which would make the government more democratic and give the general population a stronger voice.

A coalition of this size is rare in Israeli politics, although in 1967 just before the Six Day War, the coalition was expanded to 111 members! Israel stands together in times of crisis, making some wonder if a crisis is imminent.