The Results of Israeli Elections are Both Surprising and Logical

• 03.18.2015, 23:53
• Greta Avetisyan
•  Near East,  "Insight" Analytical Center ,  World

The results of the Israeli early parliamentary elections are already known. After a long and quite tense campaign very surprising results were recorded. The Zionist Union, which during the whole period of the campaign, according to the polls, was the leading party – a fact that obviously drew Netanyahu into panic – as a result of the elections received only 24 seats in the Knesset, whereas the Likud party received 30 seats.

The results of the elections are both surprising and at the same time logical. The two competing parties during their campaign put their main emphasis on different issues. The Zionist Union taking into consideration the difficult social conditions of the country, during the campaign was mainly speaking about equality, reducing disparities, reducing poverty, promoting public and equal health and public education, promoting workers' rights,  gender equality, fighting corruption and racism. The Likud party headed by the Prime Minister Netanyahu, just the contrary, put aside the internal problems of the country and stressed the security issues of the country. To prove the seriousness of his concerns and fears Netanyahu even declared that he draws back from the idea of two-state solution, previously approved by him, again arguing that this would put the security of the country under risk. During his campaign Netanyahu was not only systematically putting forth his the above mentioned thesis, but was also not forgetting to "warn" the society that the two-state solution proposed by the Zionist Union means making concessions to the Palestinians and as a result "giving Palestinians Eastern Jerusalem and returning to 1967 borders."

Thus as in any country that has conflict, in the case of Israel also the security issue was ranked above the social problems. Of course, it is not possible in case of any party to guess, whether their promises if being elected will be fulfilled or not, but the targeted and well-planned campaign gave the expected results.

After achieving the desired outcome it is difficult to say whether Netanyahu will remain faithful to his proposed theses about Israeli-Palestinian conflict which he made during the pre-election period, particularly abandoning the idea of creating a Palestinian state, thus refuting further negotiations or not. However, nothing should be excluded in politics. It is more than likely that Netanyahu will continue his previous policy and will talk again about the possibility of creating two states, of course, if it would be necessary at that moment.

As for the status of Israeli Arabs and whether any changes will take place for them after the election, nothing can be said for sure. But one should remember the "Jewish State" bill put on the discussion of the Knesset, the controversies around which, as well as the disagreements on the adoption of the budget led to the dissolution of the Knesset with a vote of no-confidence.  This bill, which Arab Israelis consider discriminatory, because it declares Israel a Jewish state,  is likely to be put on discussion again. In this case, however, one thing should be taken into account:  according to the results of the elections the United Arab List  got 14 seats in the Parliament  instead of previous 12 seats , and during the pre-election period it was announcing about forming a coalition with the Zionist Union, if it collected the majority of the votes. This means that on certain issues the United Arab List can unite its power with the Zionist Union.