Monthly Archives: November 2022

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog in a meeting with United Arab List party representatives in Jerusalem, on Friday. Credit: Oren Ben Hakoon

Regardless of the very deep concern being expressed by Diaspora and Progressive Jews, today, Sunday will see the President of Israel formally invite Benjamin Netanyahu to form Israel’s next government.

The process leading to this invitation has been completed by President Herzog. Leaders of all political parties were asked who they would support to be the next Israeli Prime Minister. 64 of the 120 lawmakers elected to the Knesset gave Netanyahu their support and only 28 recommended the former Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

What then remains is for the Prime Minister elect to complete negotiations with Likud’s coalition partners regarding ministerial positions, which will be announced by the Knesset Speaker, who will then swear in the new cabinet.

While this sounds straight forward, it is understood that the talks between the parties are not going completely smoothly. There apparently is disagreement between the parties as to the allocation of portfolios such as finance, defence, and public security.

The question is, will Netanyahu succumb to the extremists and install those who are feared and loathed? Will he lead a radical revolutionary government which would give the Knesset the power to override the court system?

Or is the new PM capable of running a conservative rightist government that preserves Israel’s democratic institutions and the rights of Israelis, whether Jewish or Arab, Progressive, or Orthodox?

The answers to these questions may take days or weeks. Either way, Isael’s future could be very different to the Israel we know and love today. Regardless however, Eretz Israel will always be precious to the Jewish people wherever they live.

Helen Shardey OAM
ARZA Australia President
UPJ Vice President

Hadash-Ta’al party leaders at their headquarters in the northern town of Shefaram, as the results of the Israeli general elections are announced, November 1, 2022. (Michael Giladi/Flash90)

The concern raised last week about the emergence of far-right parties in the Israeli elections sadly seems to be coming to fruition, and according to exit polling Netanyahu may also secure a thin majority. This could allow him to form Government and rely on support from the far-right Religious Zionist party which as predicted by last weeks polls seem to be heading to win about 14 or more seats.

None of this is good news for the Progressive movement and those with centrist views looking for a pluralist society with rights in relation to religious life events.

Interestingly, according to media reports, exit polls are also showing that two of the three Arab parties may win enough votes to enter the Knesset, with the third party just below the threshold for a seat. These parties, which attracted a higher voter turnout than last election, would oppose far-right legislation and extremist policies in the Knesset.

However, it should be remembered that exit polls are not always accurate. So again, we wait and see what emerges from the real count.

Helen Shardey OAM
ARZA Australia President
UPJ Vice President