Israeli Elections
A recent study showed that two-thirds of the Israeli public believes that the democratic system in Israel is in grave danger. Ironically, a similar proportion considers Israel a good place to live.
Shas Party leader urges MKs to support the measure to break Israel’s political stalemate • Yair Lapid calls to form “Israeli unity government.”
President Reuven Rivlin’s term is slated to end on July 9; under Israeli law, elections for his successor must be held 30 to 90 days before then.
Labor Party member of Knesset Ibtisam Mara’ana, whose candidacy sparked public ire over her past anti-Zionist statements, won for an episode of a show she created that focuses on stigma-ridden societal sectors.
Knesset speaker disqualifies Joint Arab List MKs’ oaths of office due to altered wording after each lawmaker vows: “I pledge to fight the [Israeli] occupation, racism and apartheid.”
Consultations with all Knesset factions indicate that no candidate has a “realistic chance” of assembling a coalition, says Reuven Rivlin.
It calls for a national directorate to counter foreign influence and the amendment of a government resolution on women’s rights • Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid: “No sane prime minister could allow such a thing.”
President Reuven Rivlin is to consult with all parties elected to the Knesset, after which he will task one of the representatives with forming a government.
“For 30 years, we’ve tried the path of isolationism, and it hasn’t gotten us anywhere. It’s time for a change,” says a senior member of the Arab-Israeli party.
“We call on members of the national camp to set aside their differences. Israel needs a solid, cohesive right-wing government,” says party leader Bezalel Smotrich.
The New Hope Party leader must end his “foolish” boycott of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Likud officials say, as Yesh Atid enters coalition talks with Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas.
Notwithstanding a major political development, it appears that Israel will head to an unprecedented fifth round of elections this summer.
