Israeli Politics for Beginners• Soc 2 – Monday 15:50-17:00

Last year this was called…

Know your Peres from your Peretz

Tuesday 18:00-19:20

An interactive introduction to Israeli Politics

Hopefully in an hour you will

• Find out how the Israeli electoral system works

• Learn who the main political parties are and what they stand for

• Know the results of the last election and who is currently in government

• Have an idea why things change so fast.

Please stop and ask questions any time!

The System – The Knesset

But - Only one in the last 8 Knessets completed their term.

The System – The Knesset

All Israeli Citizens over 18 can vote if they are in Israel

The system is proportional representation and a party needs 2% of the vote to get seats (>2 seats)

(Though at least three parties are coalitions of other groups so it’s kind of 17)

The Issues

• Peace process – land for peace, Oslo, Road Map, checkpoints, targetted killing, talks with Abbas, Hamas, Qassam rockets. (Iran, Lebanon)

• Settlement policy (linked to peace process) + Jerusalem + Seperation Fence. DISENGAGEMENT

• Economy – poverty, social welfare, schools, raising minimum wage, pensions.

• Minority Rights• State and Religion – shabbat, weddings and funerals,

education, military service.• The Environment• The Army (budget and conscription)• Corruption

Election Fever

• Posters, flyers, banners, bumper stickers, TV adverts. T-shirted kids standing at junctions, stands on the high street.

• This goes almost as much for local (mayoral) elections as national!

The Parties

½ The Parties (and leaders)

• Kadima – Ehud Olmert

• Labour-meimad – Ehud Barak

• Shas – Eli Yishai

• Likud – Binyamin Netanyahu

• Israel Beitenu – Avigdor Leiberman

• National Union – NRP – Benny Elon

The Rest

• Gil – Rafi Eitan

• United Torah Judaism – Yakov Litzman

• Meretz/Yachad – Yossi Beilin

• Ra’am/Ta’al – Ibrahim Tzartzut

• Hadash – Mohammad Barake

• Balad – Azmi Bishara

2006 ResultsParties % Seats +/-

Kadima 22.02% 29 new

Labour-Meimad 15.06% 19 -2

Shas 9.53% 12 +1

Likud 8.989% 12 -15

Israel Beytenu 8.985% 11 +8

National Union7.14% 9 -1

National Religious Party

5.92% 7 new

Gil 4.69% 6 +1

United Torah 3.77% 5 -1

Judaism 3.02% 4 +2

Meretz-Yachad 2.74% 3 0

Ra'am-Ta'al 2.30% 3 0

Hadash

Balad

• The turnout was the lowest in Israeli legislative election history, 63.6% of eligible voters, compared to 68.9% in 2003 and 78.7% in 1999. The turnout of 62.5% in 2001 prime-ministerial election is the lowest in nationwide elections.

Portfolio Minister Party

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Kadima

Vice Prime MinisterMinister in the PM's Office for State Policy

Haim Ramon Kadima

Deputy Prime MinisterMinister of Foreign Affairs

Tzipi Livni Kadima

Deputy Prime MinisterMinister of Defence

Ehud Barak Labour

Deputy Prime MinisterMinister of Industry, Trade and Labour

Eli Yishai Shas

Deputy Prime MinisterMinister of Transportation

Shaul Mofaz Kadima

Deputy Prime MinisterMinister of Strategic Affairs

Avigdor Lieberman Yisrael Beiteinu

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Shalom Simhon Labour

Minister of Communications Ariel Atias Shas

Portfolio Minister Party

Minister of Construction and Housing Ze'ev Boim Kadima

Minister of Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

Raleb Majadele Labour

Minister of Education Yuli Tamir Labour

Minister of the Environment Gideon Ezra Kadima

Minister of Finance Roni Bar-On Kadima

Minister of Health Yaakov Ben-Yezri Gil

Minister of Immigrant AbsorptionMinister of Negev and Galilee Development

Yaakov Edri Kadima

Minister of the Interior Meir Sheetrit Kadima

Minister of Internal Security Avi Dichter Kadima

Minister of Justice Daniel Friedmann None

Minister of National Infrastructure Benjamin Ben-Eliezer Labour

Minister of Pensioner Affairs Rafi Eitan Gil

Minister of Tourism Yitzhak Aharonovich Yisrael Beiteinu

Portfolio Minister Party

Minister of Welfare and Social ServicesMinister of the Diaspora, Society, and Fight Against Antisemitism

Isaac Herzog Labour

Minister without Portfolio(Liaison for the Civil Beit Dinim and other Torah Affairs)

Yitzhak Cohen Shas

Minister without Portfolio(Responsible for liaison with the Knesset)

Ruhama AvrahamKadim

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Minister without Portfolio Ami Ayalon Labour

Minister in the Finance Ministry Meshulam Nahari Shas

That’s 27 ministries – 11 to Kadima, 7 to Labour, 4 to Shas, 2 to Gil, 2 to YB 1

non-aligned

Time for a commercial break

Party Politics

• You will each get details of a party currently in the Knesset.

• In groups you need to become that party.• Using the resources available make an

election campaign for your party• A poster, maybe an advert or a speech.• You have 15 minutes to prepare and 3

minutes to present!• We will have an election at the end!

Know your Peres from your Peretz

Amir Peretz – Moroccan Born leader of Labour Party, defence minister, former head of trade union

Shimon Peres – Polish born elder statesman of politics and the Labour party (now Kadima). Twice prime minister but never won an election. Former hawk and dove. Responsible for many weapons purchases in his early career including possible nuclear reactors