Opinion
OTHER VIEWS
Reforms Vital To Israeli Stability
Jerusalem/JTA
A
s the United States looks for-
ward to a presidential inaugu-
ration, Israel is facing another
general election.
A little more than a month ago, the new
leader of Israel's Kadima Party, Foreign
Minister Tzipi Livni, failed to establish a
coalition government following the res-
ignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
The breakdown of coalition talks forces
Israel into premature national elections in
February, far in advance of the scheduled
date in 2010.
Livni's failure stemmed primarily from
her inability to appease demands by two
parties, the fervently Orthodox Shas and
the Pensioners Party, which posed heavy
monetary and sectarian conditions for
joining her government.
Small, special-interest parties such as
Shas, which holds 12 of the 120 seats in
the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, wield
disproportionate power in the Israeli
political system.
Their rise in recent years has come at
the expense of traditional big parties such
as Labor and Likud, which have contract-
ed to the point where they must combine
with numerous smaller parties in order to
form coalition governments. As a result,
Israel's political system has become highly
unstable and is frequently held hostage to
sectarian interests.
Livni's troubles are symptomatic of a
voter's choice.
larger systemic affliction that
Relieved of the burden of
has stripped three of the last
having to vote for just one
four Israeli prime ministers of
party, voters sent dozens of
their ability to govern.
small parties into the Knesset,
Under Israel's current politi-
each reflecting the whims of
cal structure, sectarian agendas
narrow interest groups. As a
consistently trump majority
result, the major parties shat-
interests on issues ranging
tered and the political system
from religion and state to
became paralyzed.
national security. Consequently,
In 2003, the Knesset
Arye Carmon
it has become impossible to
repealed the two-ballot system.
Sp ecial
formulate coherent policy or
But the scars of that experi-
Comm entary
govern effectively. The political
ment have yet to heal.
paralysis extends to the realm
As the Israel Democracy
of foreign policy, where it has
Institute's annual democracy index for
a debilitating effect on negotiations for
2008 illustrates, the public's confidence in
peace.
the political system now stands at an all-
It was not always this way.
time low, with only 15 percent of Israelis
For 47 years, political stability prevailed
expressing trust in political parties.
in Israel. The average term of the Knesset
Faced with a new set of international
between 1949 and 1996 was nearly four
crises, Israel's leaders must act quickly to
years.
restore stability and a sense of direction to
During all but the past 13 years, succes-
the Israeli body politic. Bold reforms are
sive Israeli governments led the country
needed to bolster the parliamentary sys-
decisively across the shifting sands of
tem by facilitating the emergence of large
war and peace while absorbing millions
parties in the legislature and strengthen-
of immigrants and shepherding its citi-
ing the executive branch's ability to gov-
zens through major economic and social
ern.
change.
The to-do list for Israeli political reform
In the early 1990s, effective governance
is lengthy and complex, but it must begin
ground to a halt with the introduction of
with two fundamental changes to the
the two-ballot system, otherwise known
electoral system that will help steer the
as "direct election of the prime minister:'
country's democracy toward greater sta-
According to this system, each citizen was
bility.
eligible to vote twice: once for the prime
First, the threshold of votes required for
minister and once for the party of the
entrance into the Knesset must be raised
to facilitate the re-emergence of two large
ruling parties.
Second, to strengthen the capacity of
elected governments to complete four-
year terms in office, the leader of the
biggest party should automatically be
designated on election night as the prime
minister.
Other necessary reforms include the
long-overdue enactment of a constitu-
tion, thereby establishing a set of binding
ground rules for political change; the
institution of a substantial increase in the
size of the Knesset, so as to achieve a rea-
sonable ratio of representatives per capita;
the introduction of regional representa-
tion, in order to enhance accountability
and representativeness; the adoption of
measures to redress imbalances between
the three branches of government; and
the implementation of mechanisms to
increase transparency within the public
sector.
By facing up to the dangers inherent
in the status quo, Israel's post-election
leadership can seize a historic opportunity
to strengthen the nation's political system
and prepare Israel for the tough decisions
that lie ahead. 0
Arye Carmon is president of the Israel
Democracy Institute, an independent think tank
based in Jerusalem. He is preparing a blueprint
for comprehensive political reform in Israel
that will be released in early 2009.
Move U.S. Embassy To Jerusalem
Jerusalem/JTA
I
recently participated in a moving
experience — an enthusiastic rally
held on the site of the proposed
United States Embassy in the Talpiot sec-
tion in the southern part of Jerusalem.
The rally, which was held in conjunc-
tion with the Orthodox Union's Biennial
National Convention, had two objectives:
to call for the U.S. government at long
last to move its embassy from Tel Aviv
to Jerusalem, in compliance with the
expressed will of the Congress; and to
affirm that Jerusalem is the eternal, undi-
vided capital of Israel and must never be
divided in any peace negotiations.
The two messages go hand in hand in
determining the future of Jerusalem and
B2
January 1 • 2009
mission to Jerusalem. Our mes-
are key elements in the O.U.'s
sage there was loud and clear:
policy regarding Israel.
Jerusalem
must remain the
After holding our 2004 and
undivided,
eternal capital of
2006 biennial conventions in
the
Jewish
people
forever, with
Jerusalem, we believed that as
the
U.S.
embassy
located
there,
a North American-based orga-
right
where
it
belongs.
The
nization, this was the year to
theme of the convention, not
return to having our gathering
surprisingly, was "Jerusalem:
in the United States. However,
Keep it One, Keep it Ours."
when it became apparent sever-
Stephen J.
We elected to hold our rally
al months ago that Jerusalem's
Savitsky
on a site that is clearly in
undivided status was at risk
Special
undisputed Israeli territory and
in Israel's ongoing negotia-
Commentary
to point out that it has been 13
tions with the Palestinians, we
years since the passage — by
decided we must act proactively
and with determination to make our posi- overwhelming majorities in both houses
of Congress — of the Jerusalem Embassy
tions known.
Act stating that "Jerusalem should be
We immediately changed our plans and
recognized as the capital of the State of
geared up for a combination convention/
Israel and the United States Embassy in
Israel should be established in Jerusalem
no later than May 31,1999." What a won-
derful bar mitzvah present it would be for
Jews worldwide if the White House finally
honors the will of Congress.
Undivided Capital
At this crucial time for Jews throughout
the world, the Orthodox Union proclaims
loud and clear that Jerusalem must be off
the table. Any peace negotiations must be
predicated upon the fact that Jerusalem
will remain Israel's undivided capital. We
pray for it, yearn for it, fast because of its
destruction, and remember it at our most
joyous times under the chuppah.
Move U.S. Embassy on page B3