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In Israel, messy system means a mushy government

Posted: Wednesday, February 11, 2009 2:43 PM
Filed Under:

By Martin Fletcher, NBC News Correspondent 

TEL AVIV – Think a few hanging chads are a problem? Or the Electoral College, which has at times left the winner of the U.S. popular vote as the loser? Well, consider the Israeli political system.

Thirty-three parties contested yesterday’s general election. One party emerges with the most seats, two parties claim victory and most analysts agree that the winner has only a slim chance of actually forming the next government.

Huh? How does that work?

Image: Kadima party leader Tzipi Livni
VIDEO:  Israel election: And the winner is...
 
No party has ever won an outright victory in Israel’s history, leading to a series of coalitions that rarely see out their full term. It seems that the tougher the problems facing Israel, the less power the government has to deal with them – and most things end up being a mushy compromise.

That’s why it took individuals with particular credibility to power key decisions (Yitzhak Rabin and the Oslo peace accords, Ehud Barak ending Israel’s 22-year long occupation of Southern Lebanon, and Ariel Sharon withdrawing from Gaza).            

Without such towering figures, the election process leaves Israel exposed at a time it faces critical challenges: Iran’s alleged race to build a nuclear bomb; increasing international hostility towards Israel’s methods of fighting terrorism (particularly the recent Gaza assault); and America’s expected tilt to a more even-handed approach to Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians. And that’s leaving out all the economic and social issues facing this nation.

What happened?
Back to the actual results (sort of). It appears that Tzipi Livni’s Kadima party got the most seats, just one more in the 120-member parliament than Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, according to preliminary results.

But that could still change as soldiers’ votes come in, they have not been included in the tally so far. Because Israel’s youth trends to the right, it is still possible that Livni could find herself the loser by next Wednesday, when the official result will be known.

Whatever the final outcome, it seems two things are inevitable: a lot of horse-trading and an almost universal call for election reform.

Image: election posters
FACTFILE: Israel's main political parties and key party leaders
Voting from fear, rather than belief
The antithesis of the winner-takes-all system, the current proportional representation process – in which parties get seats based on overall votes cast – just doesn’t work. Instead of voting for the party they believe in, Israelis often back the party they believe has the best chance of stopping the party they don’t believe in. They vote from fear rather than belief, knowing that real power does not come from your favorite party, but from the most realistic coalition of parties.

That’s what happened with this election. There was a late, sharp move by voters from the left to Livni’s Kadima Party – not because they liked Livni, but because they didn’t want Netanyahu to win. That caused the Labor and Meretz parties to crash.

And for weeks ahead of the election there was a move away from Netanyahu’s Likud to Avigdor Lieberman’s ultranationalist Israel Beitenu party, only for voters at the last minute to flee Lieberman. He still took many more seats than in previous contests, but not as big as the polls predicted. The reason was voters wanted Lieberman to be strong, but not too strong.

Analysts agree that the answer to all these Machiavellian politics is to come up with a system that dramatically reduces the number of parties taking part in elections, so that choices are fewer and more starkly framed. Unfortunately, they also agree, it ain’t gonna happen.

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Comments

They need to vote for their representatives directly, as well as the PM.

Dennis, Richmond VA (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 4:00 PM)

Sometimes this could prove more interesting to watch than American politics.  How many Arab countries do you hear this about: that elections are held with little violence and there are peaceful rallies of the possible victorious parties.  There needs to be cooperation from many parties to have a government.  How many Arab countries can say that?

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 4:00 PM)

It may be messy, but it's more representative than in our country.  We have two parties that are owned by corporate money.  They have many parties representing their constituents' interests.  

Oh, and those in power, when they loose their popularity, can be replaced, unlike here with you know who.

The Slaw, San Diego, CA (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 4:02 PM)

All Obama has to do, and it would have been better if clinton had done it over 10 years ago, maybe we wouldn't have had 911, would be to anounce to the world that Isreal has no special place on our ally list. Our allies include any country that lets the people lead and respects their human rights to the letter. Also, because many christians in this nation aren't taught, and don't have the gumption to research the torah, that there, according to the jewish religion, that their can't be a Jewish State ( Isreal) until the coming of the Messiah, which christians beleive was jesus, but jews don't. Soooooo did the Messiah show up and the jews kept it a secret? Or do the Jews who shot palestinian women and children and soldiers not beleive in the coming of the messiah?   People will be violent until the sun dies and the earth tears itself apart, it's in our nature. Jews are not the chosen people, god loves us all the same, in fact he doesn't see jews and christians and muslims, he only sees children, acting like children.

TheTruthShallSet U Free (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 4:05 PM)

No matter what is decided I hope Israeli Arabs and Palestinians aren't further marginalized by the winning coalition. Israeli newspapers don't tend to inspire much hope that non-Jewish people in the area aren't in for a lot more anguish as the winners try to prove they are the toughest.

Elliot Round Rock Texas (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 4:13 PM)

the answer is to have a run off election - something that has been brought up many times but never gotten anywhere - however - please note - as messed up as Israel's system is - it is still the only democracy in the middle east...try having elections in any of the other countries ... ( ahem , cough)  - and please don't count any election in any of the other countries that have one choice on the ballot as free.

SWL (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 4:32 PM)

this means the end eventually fo israel. hamas was elected by palestians to destroy israel. in this election the people of israel had a chance todo the same thing.  elect someone who would destroy gaza. israel will be destroyed because the jews are divided and they act like hamas is kidding in their mision to destroy israel. palestinians in israel which dont beleive in democracy are using this tactic to con jews toallow them to participate in the political process becaus thye know that they eventually become the majority and then the jews will be kicked out of israel. so they yell about democracy and thei rights which they will deny all jews oncethe in power. this is one way that the jews will allow the palestnians to destroy them. the leader of likud understand this and other ways that the palestinians are out to destroy them. it is sad that the people of israel do not realize that their lives and country are at stake and made ahuge mistake by not electing the likud party with a huge majority. a sad day indeed for israel.

frank magistro forty fort,pa (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 4:33 PM)

We have seen this "representational" form of government fail time and time again all over the world (can you say "Italy").  Rather than protecting the interests of legitimate minority parties, it allows fringe elements to excersize more power than their numbers would otherwise allow, holding the interests of the majority hostage.  True coalitions can result in the types of compromises necessary to keep a healthy democracy functioning, but the Israeli system does not foster true coalitions.  What the long suffering people of that region end up with instead is a dysfunctional system where people vote against a foe rather than for a champion. That's not much of a choice.

wbpjr, Los Angeles (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 4:33 PM)

who cares about isreal we americans have our own problems. Stop controling the american media with
isrealy news and we all know who controls the
american or the wolds media.

zevabramov (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 4:34 PM)

Unfortunately, Israel is a nation with a system of more-or-less controlled anarchy as a political process. The political process is afraid to exclude any party for fear that could spark resentment of the government and make it difficult to govern. If there were a million parties, the system would insure that, somehow, they would all be represented. It is almost as if Israel adopted democracy as the best compromise of all possible systems, even though Israelis aren't always as democratically minded as they like to believe they are.

The system is afraid to leave out anybody, because, to do so, would create clandestine attempts to discredit those in power or make it difficult to govern a population whose members think themselves reasonable, but the other guy, some sort of  "prima-donna."  So far, the Israeli people have generally hung together during various crises, but that could change with an exceptionally bad crisis, a possible nuclear war, a grave economic recession, or a major natural disaster.

What galls me is that when Israelis aren't fighting real enemies, they often pick fights with each other. Just one that comes to mind occured before the first Intifada, around 2000. Remember all those debates in the Holy Land about  "Who is a Jew? And who isn't?" Arguments that really alienated many of the non-orthodox U.S. Jewish population.  Stuff like that

Steve/Cleveland/Ohio (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 4:36 PM)

Boy, that was an intelagent report; "I don't like Israel and their politacal system is flawed". Americans never vote against the person they dislike or feare the most?

And yes, lets get more evenhanded with the terrorists, they need to be armed so that they can kill equal numbers of innocent people. But, by the way, who is a combatant and who is not in Gaza?

Craig Losby, McGrath, alaska (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 4:43 PM)

I take umbrage with your accusation regarding Israeli military tactics in Gaza. What Israel did is pusillanimous, in comparison of what America has done in Iraq and Afghanistan. What about America dropping two nucleur bombs on Japan and killing 200,000 civilians. Is this disproportionate retaliation for 2400 dead Americans at Pearl Harbor? The Japs had it coming and so do the Gazans.

R.A. Shapiro, Houston, Texas (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 4:53 PM)

Bibi cannot bring peace.

JTW, Seattle, WA, USA (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 4:53 PM)

Israel is moving towards a Jewish Theocracy anyway. That should solve everything.

Chuck, Appleton, WI (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 5:02 PM)

And here we are, stuck with only 2 parties to choose from, on the polar opposite end of the universe, and we can't even produce a viable third party. What a mess, where is a good dictator when you need one? Oh well...

mike lonkouski, cordoba, argentina (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 5:13 PM)

I think it depends on what your definition of ideal government is.  The author assumes that a powerful government is good, presumably due to pressing concern.  But is that really good.  What if a powerful government meant even greater military action by Israel?  What if it meant total inaction and complacency?  The idea with such coalition governments is that its value is precisely due to the tenuous nature of the power allowed -- no one can do something drastic unless it is overwhelmingly supported.  I'm not sure why we in US like the idea of handing so much power to one guy/party, then holding them on a pedestal while they get the country into extreme situations.  Moderation can be a good thing too.

Julian, Yreka, CA (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 5:28 PM)

Avigdor Lieberman is the true masculinist hero who can lead Israel to victory against Iran, the Arabs, and even president Hussein-Obama. When he becomes Prime Minister, then history will turn to our favor.

Brian, Long Beach, CA (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 5:33 PM)

The secrity and stablilty of Israel can only be sure if it has a peace process with its neighbours.
As long as there are hawkish politicians coming into power, it will be constant state of war- a never ending spiral of insecurity and continued excuse for violence. Someone will have to step forwrd boldly and satnd up for peace and not more wars. I am sure there will be a reciprocity of similar response from the neighbours, if not soon surely in the near future

jon (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 6:38 PM)

What amazes me the most are people who judge other countries, did we not just go through and election to which most voted for the other guy, not because of experience or intelligence, but because they didn't want the other party.  Figures, everyone is critical of others positions,when we did the same thing...the old saying "look at the pot calling the kettle black."

Buena Park, CA (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 7:19 PM)

Fletcher's report boils down to this: since a majority repudiated the policies I support (continue giving land to the Palestinians no matter how many rockets they send Israel in gratitude), Israel cannot be a democracy. Democracy is when my point of view prevails; everything else is incipient fascism.

Tom A. Milstein, New York, NY (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 8:54 PM)

when a government has more power, more gets done, good or bad.

when a government has less power, less can be accomplished.

Israel is at a severely hampered when it comes to policy since it has no strong government and exists in an area where government control is by and large complete.

Israel's inability to make decisive decisions is a significant reason why they have problems from the palistinians. nothing they decide to do sticks for any period of time.

you will notice that the most significant movement in the direction of a peace between the palistinians and the israellis occured when a comparatively strong government controlled israel, one that was able to make good its threats... and carry out its promises.

steve hoffer, winnipeg, MB (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 8:54 PM)

I hope they never get it right because as long as they have an unstable government, the state of Israel is kept off balance.  More than likely, the Bush/Cheney like "Bibi" will get a majority but that too will fail!  Can it be that God is telling them something with this scewed election?  Look after Israel and leave the Palestinian People alone!

Christy Elmasri, Carter Lake, Iowa (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 9:29 PM)

Regarles the name of Israel PM peace will be achived pending:

ARABS RECOGNITION OF ISRAEL AS A JEWSH STATE

In 1947:
Israel acepted Palestine as the 23 Arab state
Arbs did’t accept Israel as the only 1 Jewsh state

Without accepting Israel as a Jewish state all the talks and agreements are only temporary tactics leading to the desire of total Israel disctruction

The Arabs recognition of Israel as the jewsh state should have the same meaning in English and Arabic-(no double meaning)

M Ariely (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 10:36 PM)

Last I checked, hamas was elected by the people in a free election monitored by credible world bodies. I guess that does not matter to anyone here, we did not like the outcome of the elections so we put a seige on Gaza. The rest is history. How is that for Israel being the only democracy in the middle east and how pethatic is our claim in the US of being the supporters of Freedom and Democracy.  

wafa, Atlanta, GA (Sent Wednesday, February 11, 2009 11:02 PM)

 It is time Isreal elacts a leader who will not give away land that men and women have died to preserve and take back what is rightfully theirs. What other country has been forced to give up what is rightfully theirs like Isreal has? Like it or not that land belongs to Isreal and God will bless those who stand up for Her and curse those who oppose Her.Iran's leader blatantly defies Isreal's existence and publicly decries her right to exist,even ridiculing Her 60th Anniversary celebration.

 

Valmoore Cliche, Lancaster, NH (Sent Thursday, February 12, 2009 12:11 AM)

I concur that the Israeli system leads to numerous difficulties and to giving undue weight and voice to 'coalition partners' that represent relatively few voters.  On the other hand, the same is true in Italy and India---it's a by-product of a Parliamentary system.  And it proves just how strong Israeli democracy really is...

Dianne, Providence, RI (Sent Thursday, February 12, 2009 12:17 AM)

the people of Israel,the real Israelites know that te land of Israel has been promised to them and none other.God says to Rachel:your children are coming home to their borders.the peple know that the prophecy of Daniel chapter two is being fulfiled and the time of the Gentiles is rapidly ending.So Israel is surely but certainy becoming a theocracy,no one will be able to stop this.

calev ben avraham-Eilat Israel (Sent Thursday, February 12, 2009 12:41 AM)

Why did you call the Palestinian struggle to free their land terrorism? If so, would you call George Washington a terrorist? Of course not. He was astruggler who wanted independence for his country, just like the Palestinians.

Mohamed Morad, Ismailia, Egypt (Sent Thursday, February 12, 2009 6:12 AM)

The electoral system may also explain Israel's endemic political corruption which has engulfed 4 of the last five Prime Ministers, and the constant recycling of the same old faces and the same old nostrums and hypocracies.  

mike sey, Ottawa,Ontario, Canada (Sent Thursday, February 12, 2009 7:01 AM)

So you're saying that our system, where we are stuck with either Republicans or Democrats to the right and left, and where third parties have no chance to get into power, and where the majority center is not represented, is better? I would take their system in a heartbeat. At least they have choices; we don't.

Victor, Pleasantville, NY (Sent Thursday, February 12, 2009 8:17 AM)

The system is more democratic than the US. There is nothing in the US constitution stating there must be two parties. Indeed there a dozens of small parties. But we have a winner take all election. We don't apportion seats.

There are two independents in the US Senate they aligned with the democrat party to give them a majority in the senate for the past 3years. This is closest thing we have to a coalition government.

This has required a moderation of policies. Now we are faced with large majorities of Democrats . This is the first time in decades that the President, House and Senate are in the hands of one party. This will not bode well for us. Horse trading and checks and balances is best for ANY political system and is the basis of our politcal system.

It may be time for a major third Party in the US. But who leads it, how does it start and who will pour in the millions to fund it. Clearly money controls our politics.

tom Largo Fl (Sent Thursday, February 12, 2009 9:32 AM)

results unclear in Israel means Obama's ME efforts will be unclear.

Henry, Philli, PA (Sent Thursday, February 12, 2009 10:14 AM)



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