Knesset needs two large factions
Less than two weeks remain before the election for the next Knesset. During the 19th Knesset's term, a budget with 14 billion shekels in cuts will have to be approved and a decision regarding Iran's nuclear program will have to be made. Given this situation, the Channel 2 evening news broadcast on Thursday seemed detached from reality. Not a word of political or economic news was mentioned during the first half hour of the program and a piece on documentary filmmaking was set to be featured in the second part of the show.
Snow topped the news of course, as if this was the first time that Israel was covered in white. There was also the failed hit attempt on reputed mob boss Nissim Alperon in Tel Aviv. Israel's most-watched new program then turned to the situation on Israel's roads in the wake of this week's severe weather. A half hour into the show, there had been no reports on diplomatic or political issues. This, more than anything, points to our superficial manner of coping.
Even the hysteria of Shaul Mofaz, who withdrew his willingness to hold a discussion in the State Control Committee about the Harpaz report (apparently to Gabi Ashkenazi's convenience), was ignored. Halfway through the Channel 2 news broadcast, I switched to the sports channel.
Likud-Beytenu can view the latest poll numbers (which show it receiving 35 Knesset seats) through two lenses. On one hand, it appears that Likud-Beytenu will lose some of the 42 seats that the two parties held combined in the 18th Knesset. On the other hand, Likud-Beytenu has halted the recent dramatic downward decline in its poll numbers. Some within Likud-Beytenu had feared that the numbers would go down further. Now, however, a slight upward trend has been detected that could lead to 36 or 37 seats. At the same time, the upward surge for Habayit Hayehudi (14 seats in the latest poll) has stalled and a slight downward trend can be seen. In the coming days, we will see whether these new trends continue.
As of now, the right-wing bloc will receive 66 seats and have the ability to form the next government. But a narrow right-wing government is not Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's preference. One also cannot ignore the disputes that have sprouted up between various components of the right-wing bloc. Yisrael Beytenu is seeking to shove Shas to the side. Shas won't give up the Housing and Construction Ministry, even if Likud activists are able to get Moshe Kahlon to stay on in politics and take over that ministry (Kahlon's credibility would suffer a blow if he goes back on his announced plan to take a break from political life).
In the center-left bloc, the Labor party (17 seats in the latest poll) is on the rise. As a matter of principle, this is a good sign, much like Likud-Beytenu's bounce back. Essentially, as long as Israel's system of government remains as it is now, it is best for two large factions to head the coalition and the opposition.
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