- Record: found
- Abstract: found
- Article: found
All Quiet on the Western Front: The Outcome of Israel's March 2015 Elections and the Peace Process
Abstract
The March 17, 2015 parliamentary elections were held roughly two years after the previous elections. According to the results, the incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formed the new government. It controls 61 parliamentary seats, and is a narrow, right-wing and ultra-Orthodox government with the narrowest of Knesset majorities. Its composition shows that it would be one of the most right-wing administrations in Israel's history, and there is hardly a mention or plan of resolving the Palestinian conflict. This article tries to analyze whether the electoral results open up new possibilities for the peace process and Israel's security agenda.
Content
Author and article information
Notes
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “The Governments of Israel-Coalitions 1949 to the Present,” http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/aboutisrael/state/government/pages/the%20governments%20of%20israel.aspx (accessed April 2, 2016).
The Knesset in the Government System, “Knesset Elections Results,” http://www.knesset.gov.il/deSCRIPTion/eng/eng_mimshal_res.htm (accessed April 2, 2016); Joshua Mitnick, “Israel Elections 101: Can Country Risk Another Fragile Coalition?,” The Christian Science Monitor , February 19, 2015, http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle-East/2015/0219/Israel-elections-101-Can-country-risk-another-fragile-coalition (accessed April 2, 2016).
Likud has mostly formed the coalition governments with its natural partners which are the right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties. See Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “The Governments of Israel-Coalitions 1949 to the Present.” Right-left divisions in Israel indicate positions toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict rather than economic positions. Right-wing parties hold a hawkish stance that objects to any territorial concessions, whereas parties that are termed left-wing are those that are favorable toward a peace agreement based on concessions of some territories to the Palestinians.
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “The 33rd Government of Israel-Ministers and Senior Officials,” http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/AboutIsrael/State/Government/Pages/The-33rd-Government-of-Israel.aspx (accessed April 2, 2016).
“PM Lashes Out at Ministers over Threats to Bolt Coalition,” The Times of Israel , November 30, 2014, http://www.timesofisrael.com/pm-lashes-out-at-coalition-ministers-over-recent-crisis/ (accessed October 22, 2015).
Ruth Eglash and William Booth, “Netanyahu Fires 2 Centrist Israeli Cabinet Ministers, Setting Stage for Early Elections,” The Washington Post , December 2, 2014, http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/netanyahu-fires-2-centrist-israeli-cabinet-ministers-setting-stage-for-early-elections/2014/12/02/a92f36dd-9159-43e8-8cc9-ca1076cb0089_story.html (accessed October 22, 2015).
Jonathan Lis, “Netanyahu Calls for New Elections, Accuses Livni and Lapid of Plotting ‘Putsch’,” Haaretz , December 2, 2014, http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/.premium-1.629648 (accessed October 22, 2015).
“Knesset Votes to Dissolve, Sets New Elections for March 17,” The Times of Israel , December 8, 2014, http://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-votes-unanimously-to-dissolve-ushering-in-new-elections/ (accessed October 22, 2015).
Central Elections Committee of Israel, “The Electoral System in Israel,” http://www.bechirot20.gov.il/election/English/About/Pages/KnesetElectionPrinciple_eng.aspx (accessed April 2, 2016).
Neri Zilber, “Israel's Governance Law: Raising the Electoral Threshold,” The Washington Institute Policy Analysis Policywatch 2220 , March 10, 2014, http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/israels-governance-law-raising-the-electoral-threshold (accessed April 2, 2016).
Yotam Rozenwald, “Analysis: Israel's New Electoral Threshold Changes Political Alliances for the 2015 Elections,” Jewish Press , January 27, 2015, http://www.jewishpress.com/indepth/analysis/analysis-israels-new-electoral-threshold-changes-political-alliances-for-the-2015-elections/2015/01/27/ (accessed December 14, 2015).
Jodi Rudoren, “Netanyahu Talk Stirs Backlash in Israeli Race,” The New York Times , January 27, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/28/world/middleeast/israeli-opposition-takes-aim-at-netanyahu-over-planned-speech-to-congress.html?_r=0 (accessed October 18, 2016).
Isabel Kershner, “Netanyahu May Gain Only a Fleeting Lift From His Speech, Experts Say,” The New York Times , March 4, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/05/world/middleeast/netanyahu-israel-speech-iran-nuclear.html (accessed October 18, 2016). However, P5+1 countries, the European Union, and Iran declared the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action regarding Iran's nuclear program which was decided in Switzerland on April 2, 2015. See Julian Borger and Paul Lewis, “Iran Nuclear Deal: Negotiators Announce ‘Framework’ Agreement,” The Guardian , April 3, 2015, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/02/iran-nuclear-deal-negotiators-announce-framework-agreement (accessed July 20, 2015).
Gil Ronen, “Netanyahu: Bar Ilan Speech Is Dead,” Arutz Sheva , March 8, 2015, http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/192311#.VSwjGZvGPIV (accessed July 21, 2015).
Barak Ravid, “Netanyahu: If I'm Elected, There Will Be No Palestinian State,” Haaretz , March 16, 2015, http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel-election-2015/1.647212 (accessed July 21, 2015).
Peter Beaumont and Alan Yuhas, “Netanyahu Backs Off from Pre-Election Stance Ruling Out Palestinian State,” The Guardian , March 19, 2015, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/19/binyamin-netanyahu-israel-palestine-two-state-solution (accessed July 21, 2015).
Jonathan Lis, “Labor, Livni Agree to Join Forces Ahead of Elections,” Haaretz , December 10, 2014, http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/1.631032 (accessed April 14, 2015).
“Two Israeli Parties Unite against Netanyahu,” Al Jazeera , December 11, 2014, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/12/israel-election-labour-hatnuah-netanyahu-2014121103058316273.html (accessed April 14, 2015).
Marissa Newman, “Livni Forgoes Rotating Premiership with Herzog,” The Times of Israel , March 16, 2015, http://www.timesofisrael.com/livni-forgoes-premiership-rotation-with-herzog/ (accessed April 14, 2015).
Robert Tait, “I am Ready to Be Israel's Next Prime Minister, Declares Isaac Herzog,” The Telegraph , February 24, 2015, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/11432691/I-am-ready-to-be-Israels-next-prime-minister-declares-Isaac-Herzog.html (accessed April 14, 2015).
Isaac Herzog, “Why Israel Should Vote for Palestinian Independence,” Foreign Affairs , September 16, 2011, http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/68271/isaac-herzog/why-israel-should-vote-for-palestinian-independence (accessed May 17, 2015).
Omri Zerachovitz and Ora Coren, “Herzog, Kahlon, Bennett Share Their Views on the Economy,” Haaretz , March 12, 2015, http://www.haaretz.com/business/1.646483 (accessed April 14, 2015).
Julie Steigerwald, “Herzog Meets Abbas, Calls for Resumption of Israeli-Palestinian Peace Talks,” The Jerusalem Post , September 5, 2014, http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Herzog-to-Abbas-Israeli-Palestinian-peace-talks-should-resume-in-wake-of-Gaza-conflict-374565 (accessed October 22, 2015).
Isabel Kershner, “Alliance Adds Twist to Israeli Elections,” The New York Times , December 10, 2014, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/11/world/middleeast/alliance-adds-twist-to-israeli-elections.html?_r=1 (accessed April 14, 2015).
Lazar Berman, “Arab Parties Finalize Unity Deal,” The Times of Israel , January 22, 2015, http://www.timesofisrael.com/arab-parties-and-hadash-finalize-unity-deal/ (accessed April 14, 2015).
Ariel Ben Solomon, “Tibi's Ta'al Party Picks Lawyer for Second Slot,” The Jerusalem Post , January 27, 2015, http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Tibi-picks-lawyer-for-second-slot-in-Taal-party-389170 (accessed April 14, 2015).
Areej Hazboun and Daniel Estrin, “As Arab MKs Unite, a New Political Landscape Emerges,” The Times of Israel , January 28, 2015, http://www.timesofisrael.com/as-arab-mks-unite-a-new-political-landscape-emerges/ (accessed April 14, 2015).
Naomi Zeveloff, “Can Israel's New Arab List Make History?,” Forward , February 22, 2015, http://forward.com/news/israel/215112/can-israels-new-arab-list-make-history/ (accessed April 14, 2015).
Stuart Winer, “Yair Lapid Says Sorry, Sorta,” The Times of Israel , September 15, 2013, http://www.timesofisrael.com/yair-lapid-says-sorry-sorta/ (accessed September 19, 2015).
Ilan Ben Zion, “Lapid Most ‘Disappointing’ Politician of the Year, Poll Finds,” The Times of Israel , September 4, 2013, http://www.timesofisrael.com/lapid-most-disappointing-politician-of-the-year-poll-finds/ (accessed September 19, 2015).
Gil Hoffman, “Lapid Threatens Coalition over Peace Process,” The Jerusalem Post , January 18, 2014, http://www.jpost.com/Diplomacy-and-Politics/Labor-officials-lobby-Livni-Lapid-to-quit-confrontational-Netanyahu-coalition-338578 (accessed September 19, 2015).
Attila Somfalvi, “Yesh Atid Prioritizes Regional Agreement over Peace with Palestinians,” Ynet News , February 16, 2015, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4627290,00.html (accessed December 21, 2015).
Adiv Sterman, “Popular Ex-Likud Minister Launches New Party,” The Times of Israel , December 3, 2014, http://www.timesofisrael.com/popular-ex-likud-minister-launches-new-party/ (accessed December 21, 2015).
Melanie Lidman, “Ex-Likud Minister Kahlon to Call His New Party Kulanu,” The Times of Israel , December 10, 2014, http://www.timesofisrael.com/ex-likud-minister-kahlon-to-call-his-new-party-kulanu/ (accessed December 21, 2015).
In Israel, usually right-wing politicians attribute themselves as the “national camp.”
Itamar Sharon, “Kahlon: Government Has Failed, Should ‘Clear the Way’,” The Times of Israel , March 13, 2015, http://www.timesofisrael.com/kahlon-government-has-failed-should-clear-the-way/ (accessed January 26, 2016).
Niv Elis, “Kahlon Says He, Not Galant, Will Decide on Liberman Alliance,” The Jerusalem Post , March 11, 2015, http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Kahlon-says-he-not-Gallant-will-decide-on-Liberman-alliance-393624 (accessed December 21, 2015).
“Two Israeli Parties Join Forces against Netanyahu,” Associated Press , December 10, 2014, http://bigstory.ap.org/article/d95f249387404df8b5eb2161f2b518cc/two-israeli-parties-join-forces-against-netanyahu (accessed January 26, 2016).
“Israeli Political Parties: The Jewish Home,” Jewish Virtual Library , February 5, 2015, http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Politics/JewishHome.html (accessed January 26, 2016).
Ralf Hexel, Israel after the Elections: Is the Country Facing Political Change? (Herzliya, Israel: International Policy Analysis, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, 2013), 3–4. After the capture of West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem in 1967, National Religious Party was the main religious nationalist party in Israeli political life. It was always a member of all coalitions from 1948 to 1992. After the Yom Kippur War of 1973, the party took a more nationalistic character and its followers believed that settlements in West Bank and Jerusalem were closely associated with divine redemption. See Barry Rubin, Israel: An Introduction (New Haven, CT and London: Yale University Press, 2012), 166.
Eretz Israel or Eretz Yisrael is a Hebrew term meaning “Land of Israel.” It is used to refer to Palestine and is found in the Bible. It refers to the land of ancient Israel which covers all of Palestine, including West Bank and Jerusalem. See Bernard Reich and David H. Goldberg, Historical Dictionary of Israel (Lanham, MD: The Scarecrow Press, 2008), 156.
“A Look at the Makeup of the New Israeli Government,” Associated Press , March 14, 2013, http://bigstory.ap.org/article/look-makeup-new-israeli-government (accessed June 24, 2015).
Harriet Sherwood, “Naftali Bennett Interview: ‘There Won't Be a Palestinian State within Israel’,” The Guardian , January 7, 2013, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/07/naftali-bennett-interview-jewish-home (accessed April 11, 2016).
“Israeli Political Parties: Yisrael Beiteinu,” Jewish Virtual Library , February 5, 2015, http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Politics/Yisraelbeitenu.html (accessed April 11, 2016).
Moran Azulay, “Knesset's Left in Uproar: ‘Lieberman's as FM Bomb in Peace Process’,” Ynet News , November 11, 2013, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4452260,00.html (accessed April 11, 2016).
“Liberman ‘Peace Plan’ Would Pay Arabs to Leave Israel,” The Times of Israel , November 28, 2014, http://www.timesofisrael.com/libermans-peace-plan-calls-for-funding-arab-emigration/ (accessed April 11, 2016).
Reich and Goldberg, Historical Dictionary , 439.
Rubin, Israel: An Introduction , 225.
Reich and Goldberg, Historical Dictionary , 319.
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “FAQ: Elections in Israel,” http://mfa.gov.il/MFA/AboutIsrael/State/Democracy/Pages/FAQ_Elections_Israel.aspx (accessed December 1, 2015).
Central Elections Committee of Israel, “Elections Results,” http://www.bechirot20.gov.il/election/English/kneset20/Pages/Results20_eng.aspx (accessed April 15, 2015).
Likud and former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu ran together in 2013 elections and got 31 seats (20 for Likud and 11 for Yisrael Beiteinu). At the same time, Labor Party and Hatnuah won 15 and 6 seats respectively. The three parties which formed the Joint (Arab) List were Hadash and Ra'am-Ta'al which won 4 seats each, and Balad which got 3 seats in 2013.
Aron Heller, “Ex-Netanyahu Ally Looks to Be Israeli Kingmaker,” Associated Press , December 3, 2014, http://bigstory.ap.org/article/98032a48329b42698f72e794dff423ae/israeli-lawmakers-vote-dissolving-parliament (accessed August 18, 2015).
Moran Azulay, “Moshe Kahlon Unites Faction under ‘Togetherness’ Banner,” Ynet News , December 10, 2014, http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4602126,00.html (accessed August 18, 2015).
In 2013 election Likud, the Jewish Home, Shas, United Torah Judaism, and Yisrael Beiteinu won a total of 61 seats in the Knesset.
Ariel Ben Solomon, “Arab Sector Turnout for Recent Elections Reached 63.5%, Polling Data Shows,” The Jerusalem Post , March 24, 2015, http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Arab-sector-turnout-for-recent-elections-reached-635-percent-polling-data-shows-394878 (accessed April 21, 2015).
The Knesset in the Government System, “Knesset Elections Results.”
Basic Laws, “Basic Law: The Government (2001),” http://www.knesset.gov.il/laws/special/eng/basic14_eng.htm (accessed March 12, 2015).
Gil Hoffman, “Countdown to Coalition Begins after Rivlin Gives PM Mandate,” The Jerusalem Post , March 25, 2015, http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Rivlin-entrusts-PM-with-forming-his-fourth-government-395104 (accessed April 18, 2015).
Jeffrey Heller, “Netanyahu Receives Two-Week Extension to Form Government,” Reuters , April 20, 2015, http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/20/us-israel-politics-idUSKBN0NB0RW20150420 (accessed May 12, 2015).
It was expected that Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu would be in the coalition government. However, in a last-minute announcement Lieberman declared that he would not join the next government, leaving Netanyahu with a narrow majority. See Jonathan Lis, “Lieberman Quits Foreign Ministry, Won't Join Netanyahu Government,” Haaretz , May 4, 2015, http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel/1.654896 (accessed May 30, 2015).
“With Less than 2 Hours to Spare, Netanyahu Secures a Coalition,” The Times of Israel , May 6, 2015, http://www.timesofisrael.com/in-the-11th-hour-netanyahu-finalizes-61-strong-coalition/ (accessed May 30, 2015).
Gil Hoffman, “Netanyahu's Fourth Government Is Sworn in after Appointments Cause Chaos,” The Jerusalem Post , May 14, 2015, http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Netanyahus-fourth-government-set-to-be-sworn-at-Knesset-403134 (accessed May 30, 2015).
Marissa Newman, “By Narrowest of Majorities, Netanyahu's Coalition Sworn in,” The Times of Israel , May 14, 2015, http://www.timesofisrael.com/presenting-cabinet-netanyahu-says-door-open-for-herzog/ (accessed May 30, 2015).
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “The Governments of Israel-Coalitions 1949 to the Present.”
Ilan Peleg, “The Zionist Right and Constructivist Realism, Ideological Persistence and Tactical Readjustments,” Israel Studies 10:3 (Fall 2005), 145.
Peleg, “The Zionist Right,” 147.
Jodi Rudoren, “Netanyahu Forms an Israeli Government, With Minutes to Spare,” The New York Times , May 6, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/07/world/middleeast/netanyahu-israel-coalition-government.html (accessed October 18, 2016).
Jodi Rudoren, “Ayelet Shaked, Israel's New Justice Minister, Shrugs Off Critics in Her Path,” The New York Times , May 15, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/16/world/middleeast/ayelet-shaked-israels-new-justice-minister-shrugs-off-critics-in-her-path.html?_r=0 (accessed May 30, 2015).
Ishaan Tharoor, “Israel's New Justice Minister Considers All Palestinians to Be ‘the Enemy’,” The Washington Post , May 7, 2015, http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/05/07/israels-new-justice-minister-considers-all-palestinians-to-be-the-enemy/ (accessed May 30, 2015); Judy Maltz, “What Does Israel's New Justice Minister Really Think about Arabs?” Haaretz , May 11, 2015, www.haaretz.com/news/israel/.premium-1.655941?v=EB14D83F875671B6BE55CADD20A9A526 (accessed July 11, 2016).
Itamar Sharon, “Who's Who in Netanyahu's 2015 Government,” The Times of Israel , May 15, 2015, http://www.timesofisrael.com/whos-who-in-netanyahus-2015-government/ (accessed May 30, 2015).
Jonathan Lis, “Netanyahu Capitulates to Bennett, Announces New Gov't after Giving Justice to Shaked,” Haaretz , May 7, 2015, http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel/.premium-1.655247 (accessed May 30, 2015).
Uri Savir, “Rejectionist Israeli Government Becomes Palestinian Asset,” Al-Monitor , May 3, 2015, http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/05/israel-new-government-pa-strategy-international-community.html# (accessed May 30, 2015).
“With Less than 2 Hours to Spare, Netanyahu Secures a Coalition.”
Barack Ravid and Avi Issacharoff, “Netanyahu: Extending Settlement Freeze Will Cause Government to Collapse,” Haaretz , July 29, 2010, http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/netanyahu-extending-settlement-freeze-will-cause-government-to-collapse-1.304671?v=1B7E8C16CDC1EDD6BDE12CA11139238E (accessed March 3, 2015).