In my previous articles on the Israeli Elections, despite the
polls giving a slight edge to the left of center Zionist Camp, I had written
that the majority of the Israeli electorate is right of center to extreme right
wing. This would influence coalition negotiations with Benjamin Netanyahu being
re-elected as prime minister. However, I did predict that it would be a close
result. The day after the elections, Netanyahu's Likud Party received the most
seats (30 seats) while the Zionist Camp trailed behind by 6 seats (24 seats).
Even if the result would be a draw, there is no way that the Zionist Party
would be able to form a coalition. As in all elections, no party has ever had
an absolute majority or even approached that. Reliance on coalition deals with small
parties has always been the major factor in coalition negotiations to form a
new government.
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| Benjamin Netanyahu delivers a speech next to his wife Sara as he reacts to exit poll figures in Israel's parliamentary elections late on March 17, 2015. |
The small parties are center-right to extreme-right. They are the
natural partners in coalition bargaining with the Likud. For many of us, the
results are disappointing though hardly surprising, considering that most
Israelis are center to extreme right. There was no serious discourse on solving the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict. This is viewed as taboo at election time. The issues were cost of living and the increasing cost of housing.
There are only two small parties that are left wing, Meretz and
the Joint List (which has mostly Arab members). The Joint List is the third
largest party. They will be in the opposition no matter which party forms a
coalition. They are not even considered as potential partners even in a left
coalition. The Joint List is anti-Zionist. They were not even prepared to sign
a surplus vote agreement with Meretz as the latter is a Zionist party, despite
claims to the contrary by the right wing.
The polls prior to the elections had predicted a narrow victory
for the Zionist Camp. The polls were proved wrong and misleading.
Netanyahu was in a panic on Election Day. He was convinced that
the Likud would lose the elections and he would not be re-elected as prime
minister. Later that afternoon on Election Day, voting was not as brisk as
expected. Only about 55% of registered voters had cast their votes. For
Netanyahu, this could spell disaster for his Likud Party. When Netanyahu
panics, he sweats and he is unable to hide his stress. In this situation, being
the wily, resilient politician that he is, he managed to pull a racist rabbit
out of his hat. He declared that the Arabs are turning up "in droves"to vote and this spells danger to Israel and its security if the
Likud loses. The ruse worked and the apathetic voters, sharing Netanyahu's
concern at the possibility of losing, came out of their "rabbit holes”,
made a bee-line to the polling stations, and voted Likud. The low poll was
pushed up to 72% within a few hours until closing time. Netanyahu, almost
single-handedly, became the master of his own destiny to re-election as Prime
Minister of the 20th Knesset. The exploitation of fear of Arab citizen votes
for the Joint List en masse reeks of racism on the part of
Netanyahu It is deplorable to denigrate Arab citizens of Israel for cheap
political gains as Netanyahu has done!
Since the results of these elections, so many commentaries have
been made in the press and on TV as to why the Zionist Camp lost the elections.
They were unable to convince the Israeli voter to support them. They never
really became organized throughout their campaign by offering a viable and
realistic alternative. The fault lies with the two leaders of the Zionist Camp.
Isaac Herzog, leader of the Zionist Camp, has an illustrious pedigree, being
the son of the Late Chaim Herzog, who was president of Israel and had
a very successful political and military career. Yitzchak Herzog does not have
charisma or voice that inspires the average citizen to vote for him. He
side-stepped issues, such as the future of peace negotiations with the
Palestinians as he felt that is not an issue for elections. He was scared to
appear as somebody who will sell out Israel to Hamas, which of course is
ridiculous. Netanyahu took advantage of this and demonized the Zionist Camp
stating repeatedly ad nauseam that the left will divide Jerusalem and bow down to
Palestinian demands. Knowing the Israeli electorate as he does, the use
of fear of an Arab take-over of Israel
if the Likud loses brought him the desired results. The Israeli left is
considered traitors by many right-wing voters and the Likud. This tendency to to demonize the left will increase. The small right
wing parties took advantage of this demonization tactic.
Tzippi Livni, Herzog's running mate, also has very little
credibility. She had changed parties four times (she was a staunch member of
Likud as well as being in the Likud cabinet, then leader of the now defunct Kadima
Party, followed by Tnuah which she started and finally joined up with the
Zionist Camp). Apart from that, Netanyahu is viewed as the only person capable
of leading Israel.
Many people have said to me "Can you imagine Herzog, who is wimpish,
leading the country?" The devil one
knows is preferable to the devil unknown. As tired as the electorate is of
Netanyahu he is still considered the best of poor alternatives.
The use of various epithets describing Netanyahu and going for his
wife Sara Netanyahu and their lavish life-style boomeranged as a "sympathy
vote" for the Likud can also be viewed as a result.
The future ramifications for Israel because of Netanyahu’s
re-election as Prime Minister are not good. Israel's image in the world and the
relationship with President Obama is not good either. A good relationship with
the US is important for Israel. We must
remember that without US
military aid and financial support, Israel would be in a very poor
situation. After all, the Iron Dome anti-ballistic system that was successful
in saving the lives of many Israelis during Operation Protective Edge in July
2014 received the green light from President Obama. We must never forget that
and must cease "Obama-bashing" over the Iran nuclear negotiation issue. None
of us knows what is happening behind the lines and relies on spin, half-truths
and hype. No US agreement
with Iran
on these issues has been reached. Israel has the right to express
concern using accepted channels not a vote-gaining strategy by Netanyahu by
addressing the American Congress on 3rd March 2015 prior to the
Israeli General Elections.
The neo-fascist Yahad Party of the ex-Shasnik, Eli Yishai was
eliminated and has no representation in the Knesset, is the only positive
achievement of these elections. Israel
is in for a bumpy ride in coalition building and also in its relations with the
world as peace with the Palestinians and a two-state solution recedes even
further from the realm of remote possibility.
