Informed Questions Paper: Israeli Political Issues

Abstract

Abstract : Israel has a parliamentary democracy, with a 120-seat parliament and a cabinet led by a prime minister (the leader of the largest party represented in parliament). Members of parliament are elected by proportional representation for a four-year term. Parties qualify for a parliamentary seat if they receive at least 1.5% of the national votes cast, leading to a wide variety of niche parties. During the most recent election, 30 parties vied for seats, but only 15 passed the vote threshold. The Palestinian conflict apparently dominated the recent elections, as the Israeli public seemed to move to the right away from the liberal parties. Israel also continues to struggle with the proper religious-secular balance in society, and this debate appeared to impact the elections as well: a secular party Shinui became the third-largest party in the parliament. Finally, Israel's economic difficulties have also received a great deal of attention in the political arena. The following questions revolve around the outcome of the most recent election, its potential impact on major political issues, and government prospects for success when dealing with those issues.