The Economist - UK (2019-06-01)

TheEconomistJune 1st 2019 43

1

I

t was noteven two months ago that Bin-

yamin Netanyahu declared “a great vic-

tory” after his Likud party took 35 seats in a

hard-fought election. The voters seemed to

have given the prime minister an unprece-

dented fifth term; soon he would become

Israel’s longest-serving leader. His bloc of

nationalist and religious parties held a 65-

seat majority in the Knesset (see chart). All

that was left was the haggling, over cabinet

posts and policies, before Mr Netanyahu

announced his new government.

The haggling, though, got the better of

him. Bedevilled by the demands of Avigdor

Lieberman, a rival on the right, Mr Netan-

yahu was unable to form a government by

the deadline on May 29th. To stop the presi-

dent from asking the opposition to have a

go, he and his right-wing colleagues (along

with the Arab parties) finally agreed to dis-

solve the Knesset and call a new election.

Many members had yet to make a speech

when they voted to give up their jobs. For

Mr Netanyahu it is an unusual failure—one

that threatens his political survival.

The situation is unprecedented. Every

other election since Israel’s founding in

1948 has resulted in the formation of a gov-

ernment. The finance ministry says there

is no money for a new election, which has

been scheduled for September. (It will

surely find the shekels.)

The ostensible cause of all the chaos is

legislation, drafted by the previous govern-

ment, that would cut into the exemption of

religious students from compulsory mili-

tary service. Under the bill an increasing

(though still small) number of such yeshiva

students would be required to serve. Mr

Lieberman, who leads Yisrael Beiteinu, a

secular nationalist party, insisted that it be

passed by the new Knesset without any

amendment. But United Torah Judaism

(utj) and Shas, ultra-Orthodox parties, op-

pose the measure. Mr Netanyahu needed

the support of all three in order to have a

majority. He could not bridge the divide.

The exemption for yeshivastudents has

long been a political hot potato. Mr Lieber-

man insists that for him it was “a matter of

principle”. But he is also positioning him-

self for the day after Mr Netanyahu. The

two go back three decades. Mr Lieberman, a

former Likudnik, served as his political

aide and director-general of the prime

minister’s office. He was Mr Netanyahu’s

defence minister until last year—when he

(unsuccessfully) tried to bring down the

government by withdrawing his party from

the ruling coalition. He again senses weak-

ness and by choosing an issue popular with

secular voters he believes he can increase

Israeli politics

Back to the ballot box

JERUSALEM

Unable to form a government, Binyamin Netanyahu calls an early election.

His failure could prove costly

The coalition that wasn’t

Source:Haaretz.com

SeatsinIsrael’sKnessetbypartyandpoliticalstance,2019, 120 seatsavailable

Hadash-Taal(6)

Raam-Balad(4) YisraelBeiteinu(5)

Centre-leftbloc(55) Right-wingparties(65)

Likud (35)

United Right (5)

Blue & White (35)

Meretz (4) Labour (6) Kulanu(4)

Shas

(8)

UTJ

(8)

Middle East & Africa

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