ISRAEL KNESSET 2009

Israel  through knesset 2009

Dated of 28th February 2009 and updated on 23th March 2010

By Didier BERTIN

We present in appendix Knesset‘s evolution according to our view of Israeli parties.

We made brief comments on the figures which are sufficiently meaningful.

Main changes:

1-LEFT WING

Israel lost definitively his identity of a country founded on the basis of left wing.

Left wing continues his permanent decline and collapsed with a decrease of 41% in 2009.

Left Wing of Israel’s founders (Avoda and Meretz) represents now only 13.3% of the whole Knesset. Israel of our memories is only 13.3 % of Israel today.

2-CENTER RIGHT

The pragmatist people from right and left who formed KADIMA are stable and represent 23.3% of KNESSET, which is not enough to play a part alone.

3-RELIGIOUS PARTIES

They are part of the very conservative Society but seem not so loved than before with a decrease of 15%.

Nevertheless they are bigger than the whole left wing with 23 seats against 20 for the left and not so far from Kadima (82% of Kadima’s size).

4-ULTRA-RIGHT WING’S LIKOUD

LIKOUD is the big winner with an increase of 125% from 15 to 27 seats and becomes as big as KADIMA. Alone it obtains additionally the 15 seats lots by the left and KADIMA, in figure.

This increase probably originates mainly in the change of mind of former voters in favor of KADIMA and Religious Parties, meanwhile probably part of left wing voters has decided to join KADIMA.

This trend to Right reveals a taste for more strength and less negociation, which is continued in the increase of Yisrael Beitenou’s fanatics.

5- FANATIC ULTRA RIGHT

The fanatic ultra right represented by YISRAEL BEITENOU continues to strengthen: +36% and from a small party has become now bigger than the Historic AVODA.

They illustrate the most extreme part of the irresistible sliding of Israel to tougher and tougher side and his divorce with his former identity.

 

CONCLUSION

Meanwhile the historic left wing almost completely collapsed, the ultra Right wing Nationalist and religious hold 65 seats i.e. more than the 61 seats representing the absolute majority of the whole KNESSET. This situation is of course not favorable to Peace Process.

The current prime minister does not need the center Party, KADIMAin terms of figures; he has made an alliance with fanatics (Yisrael Beitenou) and has nominated their leader as minister of foreign Affairs.

This would be perfect for him except that he does not obtain the respectability necessary to maintain good relations with Europe and recently with USA.

The current prime Minister needs Kadima and in particular Tsipi Livni to become respectable; up to now Tsipi Livni has refused to join him and acts correctly , if she wants to help Israel’s voters to mature to a wiser position. Part of them need to understand that it is difficult to be together ultra rightist and respectable. We have no word to express our contempt for AVODA, which joined the Government of Benyamin Netanyahou. After an electoral collapse, this former Party of the left knows a collapse of ideas and values. The Rightists thought to find sould and repectability in convincing the intelectually fragile AVODA; as a result AVODA lost its soul and was not anymore available for Ultra Right.

 

 
NUMBER OF SEATS  17TH AND 18TH KNESSET CHANGE
120 MEMBERS - MAJORITY 61 MAY 2006 FEBRUARY 2009 VALUE  %
ARAB parties 7 7 0 0
RAAM TAAL 4 4    
BALAD 3 3    
LEFT 34 20 -14 -41%
HADASH 3 4    
MERETZ 5 3    
AVODA 19 13    
GUIL 7 0    
CENTER 29 28 -1 -3%
KADIMA 29 28    
RIGHT   50 65 15 30%
RELIGIOUS 27 23 -4 -15%
SHASS 12 11    
IHOUD LEUMI 9 4    
HABAYIT HAYEOUDI 0 3    
YAHADOUT HATORAH 6 5    
Extreme RIGHT 12 27 15 125%
LIKOUD 12 27    
ULTRA Right 11 15 4 36%
YISRAEL BEITEINOU 11 15    
GRAND TOTAL 120 120