Community Magazine November 2019

42 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE T o Bibi or not to Bibi, that is the question. Despite two Israeli elections in six months, still no one knows yet if the sitting Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, will get another mandate to rule. Parties Bid for 61 Seat Majority The Israeli government has been locked in a months-long stalemate, with two majority party leaders – Benny Gantz and Benjamin Netanyahu – jockeying for who can scramble sufficient supporters to form a majority coalition of 61 seats in the 120-seat parliament, the Knesset. So why is this election different from all others? Unlike previous elections, where partnerships were swiftly reached via negotiation, deal-making, “horse-trading,” or due to common interests, political deadlock has occurred after both recent elections. Possibly a third election looms if a coalition is not formed, which allows the members to reach “the magic number” 61, allowing for a majority in the Knesset. Netanyahu is Israel’s longest serving Israeli prime minister, in office for more than 13 years. Netanyahu, head of the Likud party, had initially been tasked to build a coalition after the April 9th election, after Likud tied with Gantz’s Blue and White party with 35 seats. Shortly afterward, the Kulanu party officially dissolved, absorbing itself into Likud, bringing Likud’s total to 38 seats. ISRAELI ELECTIONS: What Happens Next? (And Why It Matters) Elections, Round Two By the May 29 th deadline, which included a two-week extension granted by President Reuven Rivlin, talks had stalled, and there was still no majority coalition formed. With eight seats, Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Lieberman could have joined Netanyahu to form a majority coalition. However, Lieberman would only agree to join with Netanyahu if a law was passed to cancel the exemption for yeshiva students from army conscription. This was unacceptable for the coalition’s haredi parties, whom the prime minister relied upon to seal in any potential majority. New elections were called for September 17 th , with the hopes that a second round might bring about different results so that a majority coalition could be secured to form a new government. It was another dead heat, with the top two parties virtually tied, at 33 seats for Blue and White, 32 for Likud. Currently, Netanyahu has 55 seats in his coalition. Blue and White leader Gantz has 54 seats. No matter how the math has been played and reorganized, a coalition of 61 remains elusive. In true Talmudic fashion, there are likely to be multiple answers, but none of which enough people can currently agree on. A week after the latest election, on September 25 th , President Rivlin selected Netanyahu to build his coalition, with the proviso that, if by October 24 th , he was not be able to reach the required number, another candidate (presumably Gantz) will be chosen to attempt to DAVE GORDON