Israeli Elections: the Right of Israelis or the Discrimination of Arabs?

• 03.11.2015, 16:01
•  Near East,  World,  Info

Because of the bill, according to which Israel could be officially declared a national state of the Jewish people, political crisis riped in Israel that led to early parliamentary elections on March 17. The initiator of the bill was the ruling party "Likud", with the head of the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The center-left Israeli parties – "Zionist Camp", "Labor" (Labour Party) and "Hatnuah" (Movement) were against the bill.

It should be mentioned that the parties in Israel are divided into two wings: left and right - depending on whether or not they support the idea of territorial concessions to the Palestinians. Accordingly, those that support are considered as left wing, and those which do not support – right wing.

As for the bill on the Jewish state, it cannot be considered harmless. According to the bill, the Arabic language ceases to be official. The bill deprives many of the rights of Israeli citizens, if they are not Jews, and, on the other hand, confers rights on all Jews, even if they are not citizens of Israel.

Of course, the Arab population of the country sharply opposed this "discriminatory" bill. According to the Arabs, the adoption of such legislation may exacerbate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which threatens to escalate and grow into a third intifada.

According to the recent survey conducted, "Likud" and "Zionist Camp" have approximately equal chances to win in the parliamentary elections, which suggests that in the case of the victory of any of them, it will not be able to independently form a new government. Hence, there comes a need for the formation of coalition with other parties having a chance to get seats in the Knesset. According to experts, possible associates of "Likud" party can be considered  "HaBayit HaYehudi " (Jewish Home), the chairman being the current Minister of Economy and Industry Naftali Bennett. Another associate is also considered the "Russian party" - "Yisrael Beiteinu " (Israel is Our Home), the leader of the party being Avigdor Lieberman.

As for the left parties, they will first of all be supported by Israeli Arabs. Today those four - "The United Arab List",  "Arab Movement for Renewal", "National Democratic Assembly" and "Democratic Front for Peace and Equality" -  parties in their turn have created their own block.

Taking into consideration the above mentioned experts give some advantage to the "Zionist Camp". Whether this party will win or not, we will learn in a week…