‘I think that everyone understands that there needs to be a broad unity government.’
Transportation Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in a conversation with Arutz Sheva that he thinks that the solution to the post-election political turmoil will only be achieved at the very last minute.
“Everyone thinks that by the end of the day if a government is established, it will be towards the end of the 21 days. [Smotrich is referring to the 21-day period after the president concludes that the candidates recommended by the Knesset factions cannot form a government, when a majority of Knesset members have an opportunity to recommend a candidate without the need for party recommendations.] I think that everyone understands that further elections are a very bad thing and there needs to be a broad unity government that should be shared by everyone who believes in Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.”
“The significance of such a unity government is that both parties should cede on controversial issues and concentrate on the common denominator and there is a great deal of that. There is, of course, a price. We want to apply sovereignty to Judea and Samaria and legislate the laws of governance and if we establish a unity government we will need to wait.”
Smotrich warns against further elections. “We need to understand that elections for the third time will, first and foremost, damage the Israeli public’s confidence in a democracy that is already weak. We talk a lot about governance and we should have an interest in not weakening the political system any further, which naturally strengthens legal and economic officials.”
Smotrich didn’t explicitly say so but implied that there is no reason for his party not to be part of a unity government. “We have said all along that a unity government cannot stand on the basis of disqualification. Anyone who disqualifies others and focuss on issues that divide Israeli society does not really aspire to a unity government.”
Will [Yisrael Beyteinu chairman Avigdor] Liberman eventually return to the right? “That’s what was asked. We can’t understand Liberman’s irresponsible conduct in the previous round. He was the one who forced us into second elections. If he had joined the Netanyahu government the first time we could have been at the height of action now. Liberman torpedoed all of it due to personal issues between him and Netanyahu.”
Smotrich claims that there’s no need to get excited about the split within the right-wing party as it is purely technical. “When we merged, we told voters it was a technical bloc. The merger was technical to form one political platform although, in essence, we cooperated together, are cooperating together and will continue to cooperate and work together with full coordination.”
Smotrich launched a new program on Sunday that is converting a portion of traffic lanes on highways to special lanes for public transportation and cooperative travel.
Israel like many democracies is very messy and could stand a great of improvement.
Where is the guidance or example of a smooth democracy functioning well?
That is correct they all are messy to various degrees.
USA? Britain? France?
If a third election makes Israeli voters realize that Israel’s present “democracy” is a fraud and that urgent constitutional change is required, that is a good thing. The basic problem is that Israel is ruled by the 800 or so members of the bar Association and the 15 members of the Supreme Court who are drawn from them, and are appointed by their predecessors. Until the Knesset is made sovereign, as specified in the very first of Israel’s basic laws, all elections for the Knsesset are a meaningless fraud.
Until you accept you have a rubbish electoral system this problem will continue. The green types of idiots tried to introduce this system for local elections where i live early this year it was thrown out by something like 90%.
Better Israel use an African system where the candidates stand and the voters get in 2 lines 1yae 1nay the longer line wins.
Is nutunyahoo trying to creat a destiny? With his Mrs and or his son taking the reins?
A 120 seats should be voted on by 120 constituentsies, first past the post wins a seat regardless of party, voter ID needs to be tightened.