KNESSET: THE ALIEN FACTOR

KNESSET: THE ALIEN FACTOR

By Didier BERTIN - 20 AUGUST 2009

Alien generation Process of an organ living in the middle of the

Israel Population: The Knesset

1-The Parties

The Parties are generated by leaders according to ideologies far from people main concerns.

For example, welfare of the population is not often the corner stone of such ideologies:, they prefer legitimate this lack of interest often behind war issues, religion, nationalism.

Ideologies are articulated according pre-conceived idea as we said war issues, Nationalism and Religion, Protection of Jewish identity against the Arab minorities Zionism, religion, defence, security, Slowdown of territories independence, new colonies issue.

Nevertheless the Parties of the former founders of Israel were based on labour values and social progress and defence of citizens. These Parties have lost their substance or their strength in front of the lobbying action of new and predominant ideologists.

The Parties conception generate the bad treatments that Israeli citizens have to endure like long working weeks, low salaries, limited vacation, retirement at 67 years, long military service of 3 years increased by periodic service most of the working life.

 Parties and their ideologies restricted the interest of election as people may express themselves on very limited number of issues which do not concern their every day life.

 Nevertheless since the population can only vote for Parties, the Parties choose the members of Parliament and not at the Population which put thus a fence between Population and the Members of Parliament which are thus not the real representatives of the Population: this is the fist reason why Knesset is partially alien organ among the Israeli population and why it is difficult for each citizen to question them directly on their every day problem. But this process is magnified by the following mechanism.

 2-Knesset members are coming from Parties and are not elected by the population “in particular geographic districts known by electors”

 Members of Parliament have no electoral relations with any districts out of which they can be representatives. There is no electoral system for Members of Parliament according to geographical districts.

The MPs do not feel thus responsibility of representation and defence towards any local area and thus cannot be questioned by the electors of a specific area as in USA or France or other main Democracies Organisations.

As a result each citizen cannot claim justice from his or her representative in the Knesset since they don’t have any.

As a result, the MPs in most of the cases may feel responsible towards their Parties which manage their career and designate them and not towards the Population.

But this process is again magnified by the following other mechanism.

 3-The strict proportion rule distorts real proportion

The big number of Parties due to the various ideologies often similar and the full proportionality rule do not permit any party to have a clear majority enabling small parties play a bigger part in the Knesset totally out of proportion with their real. They are called by certain journalist “the kings makers”.

 So small parties may blackmail the bigger to enable them to form a majority and may request important Ministers they do not deserve in proportion.

Small parties are often more extremist than the bigger parties increasing thus extremist ideologies in  Government and then a negative role regarding Peace and Welfare.

4-SOLUTION

1-In the interest of Democracy process, Knesset should thus be constituted by local representatives feeling responsible of the local population they represent more than towards the Parties. This is a way to real and direct Democracy.

 2-The strict proportionality has only the appearance of Democracy but should be substantially moderated. In fact this permits small extremist parties to blackmail the bigger Parties and to play a very substantial part in politics out of proportion with what they deserve in term of proportion.

This is a real paradox but proportionality rule may totally distort proportionally in fine.

 With so difficult current challenges it is highly important that Israel Population be fairly represented. This will help population to act with a proper knowledge and information and in the best of its interest.