Israeli is the only country in the Middle East which, despite criticisms of its treatment of Aran citizens, operates a democratic political system, so it is surprising that the world’s media gives so little attention to its political system and its politics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three weeks ago, Israel held a general election in which the two main political blocks tied with 35 seats each in a Knesset of 120. The incumbent and long-standing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is best placed to put together a coalition that will have a majority in the legislature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Israeli democracy is a source – simultaneously and in almost equal measure – of both pride and frustration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Israelis are rightly proud that their country is the only genuine and functioning democracy in the Middle East, a region dominated by repressive and dictatorial regimes. It is a democracy that has survived repeated wars and that, with a conscript army and formidable military apparatus, remains on a war-like footing. It is a democracy in which the rule of law is so strong that even a president (Moshe Katsav) or a prime minister (Ehud Olmert) can be indicted (for rape and bribery respectively).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, Israeli’s strange electoral system and fractious political parties virtually guarantee that the government will be a coalition of very different political parties with a strong likelihood that at least one will be a nationalist or ultra-religious one with disproportionate influence in the government. This makes ruling and legislating – even more negotiating with the Palestinians – very difficult, so that on average Israeli governments last only half their permitted term (two years instead of four).<\/p>\n\n\n\n