Jerusalem // Israel’s parliament was expected last night to dissolve itself and hold elections next year as fears grow the next government will take an even harder line against Palestinian peace talks and the rights of the country’s Palestinian citizens.
Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for elections last week after his coalition collapsed just two years into its term.
During that time Palestinian talks disintegrated, Israel launched a seven-week attack on Gaza, violence in Jerusalem and the West Bank spiked and the government backed the continued expansion of Jewish settlements on occupied Palestinian territory.
The collapse of the government came after months of disagreements within the coalition primarily over the 2015 budget and defence spending but also over attempts to introduce a law that declared Israel a Jewish state. The draft legislation would reserve national rights to Jews alone and threatened to further alienate and infuriate the country’s Palestinian minority.
Mr Netanyahu presented his finance minister Yair Lapid of the centrist Yesh Atid party with a list of demands during a fiery meeting on December 1 to which he could not agree.
Mr Netanyahu’s conditions included a freeze on Mr Lapid’s plan to cut tax for first-time homeowners and support for the “Jewish state” bill that, if passed, would formally make Palestinians, comprising 20 per cent of the population, second-class citizens.
The collapse of the government paves the way for a new coalition with more right-wing parties.
“A more radical right-wing government could see the Jewish Home party becoming the second largest at the Knesset, in addition to a takeover by pro-settlement parties which will determine the future of negotiations, the peace process and the kind of solution they envision with the Palestinians,” said Palestinian foreign minister Riyad Al Malki.
Jewish Home is an ultra-right wing party opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state.
In his attempt at a fourth term, many believe Mr Netanyahu will be looking to build a coalition with former allies far more supportive of the expansion of settlements in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
Devoid of the more moderate parties, such as Hatnua and Yesh Atid, the next governing coalition is poised to be the most right-wing in recent history, especially if it attracts more ultranationalist members.
Danny Danon, the chairman of Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party, suggested as much last week. “After the Likud is victorious at the ballot box, we must be sure not to repeat mistakes of the past and form the next coalition government with loyal and like-minded parties that are interested in serving as true partners in leading our great country,” he said.
Since the elections were called for last week, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Lapid have traded barbs, the latter accusing the premier of dragging the country through needless elections — slated to cost 2 billion shekels ($505 million).
Pre-election political manoeuvring has already begun, with ultra-orthodox parties, which were kept out of the coalition that followed the 2013 elections, making plans to find a way back to power.
“Netanyahu prefers a deal with the ultra-Orthodox parties to bring about early elections above the interests of the wider Israeli public,” Mr Lapid said.
Mr Netanyahu had wanted Mr Lapid and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, to agree to the “Jewish nation state” bill. But both centrist coalition partners grew increasingly critical of the proposed law in recent weeks. They were fired a day after meeting between Mr Netanyahu and Mr Lapid.
It is unlikely that the Palestinian-Israeli conflict will be a defining factor in the upcoming elections. Israelis’ concerns over security — following a spate of stabbing and hit-and-run attacks — could, however, affect Mr Netanyahu’s chances.
Other observers suggest that Mr Netanyahu’s path to another term as prime minister is not straight forward.
“Right now it looks as if Netanyahu will remain in power, but there are certainly other possibilities,” Natheer Mjali, a Palestinian expert on Israeli affairs said. “Netanyahu has failed in managing Israeli affairs at all levels — politically, economically, security and service-wise. This is what his opposition will focus on and if they can convince the people, he may very well fall.”
foreign.desk@thenational.ae
