Israel’s Political Crisis
The State of Israel has experienced an increasing political crisis over the past few months. After three elections, the country has not yet been able to form a government, making it difficult to solve a number of existing pressing issues and move the country forward. This has led to widespread public unrest and the eruption of protest movements that are pushing for change.
Background to the Political Crisis
The current political crisis in Israel began back in the spring of 2019, when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party won a plurality of the votes in the Israeli national elections. However, due to a number of smaller opposition parties refusing to join a coalition government with him and form a majority coalition, it was unable to form a government and a period of political deadlock ensued. This led to the country going to a second election in September of 2019 with the same results, again resulting in political deadlock. On March 2nd, 2020 the third election in less than a year was held and did not lead to any further clarity. This has led to an ever deepening political crisis and a period of extended political limbo.
Heightened Public Frustration
With the Israeli government being unable to form, the state has become stagnant and the public have grown increasingly frustrated with the situation. The skyrocketing cost of living, lack of housing, and rising inequality remain unresolved and the political deadlock means there is no progress in these important issues. This has heightened public frustration even further, leading to a resurgence of protest movements throughout the country.
The Protests in Numbers
Many of these protest movements began as grassroots gatherings at public squares, but have since drawn extremely large numbers of people from all walks of life and from all corners of the country. Participation has been massive, with many experts estimating the numbers at their peak to reach over half a million people. With the vast majority of Gush Dan, Israel’s largest metropolitan area, collectively converging in a single protest. This is a remarkable testament to the level of the public’s dissatisfaction with the political deadlock and their will to lean on protest to move the governing bodies to action.
The Issues at Play
The protesters have raised a number of issues with the Prime Minister and the government itself. There are a plethora of issues that have been raised, including the rising cost of housing, the lack of access to health care and education, the rising costs of everyday goods and services, and the long-standing dispute between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Protestors are also using this as an opportunity to call for democratic reforms, and for the accountability of the Prime Minister, who is currently facing multiple criminal investigations.
Actions of the Protestors
The protests have been non-violent, with most protestors simply asking for social and governmental reform. However, some protestors have taken more direct actions such as blocking roads and occupying public offices. These actions have been met with swift action by the Israeli police who have been meting out large fines for those taking part and often arresting individuals who are deemed the ringleaders of the protests.
Counter protestors
Counter protestors have also made an appearance, mainly composed of right-wing Netanyahu supporters who are defending the current government and the Prime Minister himself. They have accused the protestors of attempting to overthrow the government and have partaken in verbal disputes with the peaceful protestors.
The Impact on Politics
The protests have had an enormous effect on the political landscape of Israel. The Prime Minister has seen a sharp decline in approval ratings and a recent Likud internal survey found that the party would no longer be the largest in the Knesset if an election were to be held today. This has further deepened the political crisis and has raised many questions about the Prime Minister’s ability to form a government.
The Way Forward
Talks of compromise and unity between the Likud and the opposition have increased over the past few weeks in the attempt to form a government and alleviate the political crisis. Netanyahu and the opposition have indicated that they are open to compromise, but it remains uncertain if a government will be formed in the near future.
Israel’s deepening political crisis has primarily been caused by the inability of Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Likud party to form a stable government. This has led to industry stagnation, a skyrocketing cost of living, and a feeling of helplessness in the public. Growing frustration with the political deadlock has caused an upsurge in protest movements which are looking for democratic reform and for accountability for the Prime Minister. In response, the Prime Minister has seen his approval ratings drop, and an internal survey found that the Likud would no longer be the largest party in the Knesset if an election were held today. Talks of compromise and unity have allowed for a glimmer of hope, but it remains unclear what will come of the situation in the near future.
