The fourth inconclusive election
One week after the fourth election in only two years, Israel is facing a déjà vu. The final results of the elections, despite current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s new victory, left an unclear scenario. The successful vaccination campaign against COVID-19 allowed Netanyahu, from the Likud party, to finish again in the first position, but the composition of the new Knesset (the Israeli Parliament) reduces his possibilities of still living in the Beit Aghion, the Prime Minister’s official residence.
The new Israeli House of Representatives (which has only 120 seats) has now a chaotic composition. The Legislative power now counts with 13 different parties, which makes more difficult the task of achieving the needed majority to form a government.
The last election was a result of the lack of agreement between Israeli parties. The political crisis inside the coalition government, which was unable to pass the State budget, and Netanyahu’s legal problems (he is standing trial on alleged corruption charges: the process, which involves three separate cases, was postponed because of the elections. The charges go from accepting $300,000 in gifts to fraud) marked the last (and brief) Israeli government. The Israeli’s executive fell the past 23rd of December, after only seven months of rule and eight parties composing the coalition.
The constant situation of deadlock
The definitive electoral results were submitted last 31 of March. Aware of the unclear situation, the Head of State, Mr Reuven Rivlin, made a call to solve the deadlock and create new alliances. The new Knesset composition forces Netanyahu to reach agreements with orthodox and far-right parties if he wants to continue in power. One of these formations, the far-right anti-LGBT Noam Party has demanded the amendment of Resolution 2331 (based on UN Resolution 1325, which urged countries for greater participation of women in politics), to make it reflect more “the Jewish values”.
However, Bibi (nickname of Netanyahu) will also have to negotiate with an unexpected potential ally: the Ra’am, the United Arab List. This party, led by Mansour Abbas and representative of the Arab population of Israel, may have the key for the new Israeli government. After several episodes of vilifying them, Netanyahu will have to start talks with this formation if he wants to renew his mandate.
If assent is made, there will be an unprecedented religious-based government, supported by the least expected actor: the Arabs. In the meantime, Abbas has assured that his formation is ready to “create a different reality”, and made a statement in favour of Arab-Israeli coexistence. Abbas did not endorse any candidate and remains open to cooperating with either Netanyahu or the parties opposed to the current Prime Minister.
On the other hand, the anti-Netanyahu bloc (composed of a series of different parties which, in most cases, the only thing they have in common is their ambition of putting an end to Netanyahu’s 12 years-rule) is trying to create an alternative to the Likud leader. However, this task is getting more difficult than expected. Negotiations are stuck, and by the moment, there is not a solid plan to reach power The path to the head of the government for the anti-Netanyahu bloc also passes by reaching an agreement with the United Arab List.
An uncertain future
Meanwhile, Israel is currently without a ministry of Justice. Former Justice principal, Avi Nissenkorn, resigned, and for the past three months, his functions were assumed by Benny Gantz, ministry of Defense. However, according to Israeli law, interim ministers can only exercise their powers for a term of three months, but Gantz’s period finished on the 1st of April at midnight.
This coincides with the start of Netanyahu’s trial (the first Israeli Prime Minister facing a criminal process while being in charge) which begins on Monday 5th. The future for Israel remains uncertain. If the country wants to avoid the fifth electoral call in two years, its politicians will have to reach an agreement. However, it looks like almost a miracle will be necessary to get an understanding.
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