The Israeli Election, 12 Years In The Making

The current political elections in Israel may seem surprising, but it is not one that came without warning. Prime Minister Netanyahu has held his position for the past twelve years, the longest-serving Prime Minister in history. Netanyahu is an incredibly far-right politician. His father was a proponent of rejecting compromises with neighboring Arab nations. Netanyahu shares in his father’s beliefs and was able to rise as chairman of Israel’s Likud, far-right, party (Bishara). After bringing the party back into power, he was able to maintain his position as Prime Minister due to his honest opinions and fortitude against foreign powers. Prime Minister Netanyahu has been heavily criticized during his time in office and is currently facing corruption charges. Losing the election would leave him vulnerable and most likely end his political career (Al Jazeera). He could even face jail time if found guilty. The charges surround his acceptance of gifts from millionaire friends, as well as requesting favorable coverage from the media. His past success may be tied to the corruption claims, which he denies. If the charges are correct, the media and its favorable portrayal of Netanyahu may have played a large hand in his continual re-election(Heller). This past year he has been praised for his success in regard to the COVID vaccine, but still faces strong opposition from the people of Israel and Palestine (Awad).

(Reuters)

Israelis and Palestinians have been in conflict for centuries, and since Israel’s independence, Palestinian’s have faced strong opposition. Those of Arabian descent make up a small percentage of Israel’s population yet face discrimination at the hands of Israel’s government. There have been countless protests against Israeli authorities, but most claims are rejected(Al Jazeera). Netanyahu has been rejected by the Palestinian community for denying them as a Palestinian state. The issue surrounding a Palestinian state has strong opposition on both sides of the argument and is the most pressing issue in Israel. He also refuses to return to the Golan Heights of Syria and denies to comment on the future of Jerusalem. Netanyahu continues to build in Jerusalem as well as create “illegal Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land”(Alster). These policies as well as his close ties to past President Donald Trump have garnered criticism, yet Netanyahu remains largely successful.

Benjamin Netanyahu (Reuters)

The current election results remain in a deadlock, with no clear winner. The majority of the votes have been counted, yet Netanyahu has been unable to secure a path to victory. He seems more concerned about maintaining his status and the current coalition than truly tackling Israeli issues. In order for the coalition to pass, Netanyahu may need support from Arab parties, yet it seems unlikely that he would be willing to work with them. Even if the left becomes the dominant force in Israeli politics, it is unlikely that they will govern with Arab parties (Estrin). If the first candidate chosen by the Israeli President is unable to form a coalition, Israeli lawmakers will select a new Prime Minister. If he too fails, the government will have to restart the election process. A restart in the process will mean that Israel holds elections for the fifth time in two years. This seems to be the most probable outcome. One cannot deny the impact that Netanyahu has had on Israeli politics, with both strong opposition and support, it is hard to predict where this election will go.
References:
1.Bishara, Marwan. “The Morning after the Israeli Electoral Circus.” Middle East News | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 22 Mar. 2021, www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/3/22/the-morning-after-the-israeli-elections-circus.
2. Al Jazeera. “Israel Votes: Palestinian-Israeli Party Now a Potential Kingmaker.” Benjamin Netanyahu News | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 24 Mar. 2021, www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/24/israel-votes-palestinian-israeli-party-now-a-potential-kingmaker.
3.Awad, Ammar. “Netanyahu's Future Unclear as Israel Election Threatens Deadlock.” Benjamin Netanyahu News | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 24 Mar. 2021, www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/24/netanyahus-future-unclear-as-israel-election-threatens-stalemate.
4.Alster, Miriam. “Benjamin Netanyahu: Who Is Israel's Longest-Serving Leader?” Benjamin Netanyahu News | Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 22 Mar. 2021, www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/3/5/benjamin-netanyahu-who-is-israels-four-term-pm.
5.Heller, Jeffrey. “Netanyahu Pleads Not Guilty to Corruption as Trial Resumes.” Reuters, Thomson Reuters, 8 Feb. 2021, www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2A80JP.
6.Estrin, Daniel. “'Continuing Deadlock' As Netanyahu Lacks Votes To Win Israeli Election.” NPR, National Public Radio (NPR), 24 Mar. 2021, 10:32 am, www.npr.org/2021/03/24/980737436/continuing-deadlock-as-netanyahu-lacks-votes-to-win-israeli-election.