Israeli elections: Same old same old

If anything, the near collapse of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and the resultant call for early elections has less to do with peace and more with political rivalries and the contention over internal matters. Hence, it is hard to avoid the conclusion that the upcoming elections will not be about peace with the Palestinians.

In the past, pundits and observers hoped that Israelis would vote in a pro-peace coalition to push for peace with the Palestinians. And yet, that was easier said than done. Every election over the last two decade has failed to produce a peace coalition. This begs the question whether the upcoming elections will be different this time? Hardly!

What unites the anti-Netanyahu groups is not a common agenda as much as a desire to unseat him.

Speaking before a distinguished audience at the annual Saban Forum in Washington on Friday, Labour Party leader Isaac Herzog pledged that he would replace Benjamin Netanyahu as the next prime minister. He promised that he would lead a centrist bloc to triumph in the upcoming elections. He also blamed Netanyahu for almost everything.

Herzog’s statement is hardly new. I have noticed that contending politicians exchanged acrimonious accusations in every previous election. Israeli politicians are good at blaming each other for the lack of peace for instance. But once anyone makes it to the premiership, peace will not be a priority.

Of course, it is too early to judge whether Herzog will form the new government although Netanyahu’s chances in next elections took a hit in a recently released poll, where a hefty majority of Israelis said they do not want to see him winning next elections. 

Former Likud minister, Moshe Kahlon, is expected to form a new party and contest the March elections. A few days ago, Kahlon made it perfectly clear that he would take drastic steps to achieve peace with the Palestinians: “I will not hesitate to concede territory for real peace. I will not miss an opportunity for peace”. It remains to be seen if he will eventually run, and if he does whether he will receive enough votes to be effective in politics after the elections.

This time around, Netanyahu will not have an easy election as the noose is gradually tightening around his neck. Hatnuah chairperson Tzipi Livni — who was fired by Netanyahu — told Israeli Channel 2 that she would join other parties to form a centre-left bloc. “The test ought to be what will bring more votes to those who can beat Netanyahu… a joint list is essential, and will lead to better results than if each of us runs separately,” said Livni. That being said, Netanyahu is still a strong candidate to form the next government. And, even if he does not make it, the alternative will most likely belong to the right rather than Herzog and like-minded leftists.

To be sure, what unites all of these parties is their desire to oust Netanyahu rather than to have an agreed upon alternative agenda, including making peace with the Palestinians. Far from being clear, talks about peace with the Palestinians lack any articulated positions. Other than saying that peace is good for all in the region, the anti-Netanyahu group is yet to articulate a clear position on the key issues. It is not enough to talk about the need to have peace as we have seen this movie before.

For two decades, peace with the Palestinians has been held hostage to the internal dynamics of Israeli politics. The outcome has hardly been positive. But the world is changing and Europe is sending clear signals that Israel must choose the path of peace or it will be increasingly isolated. In other words, the Israeli public has to choose between a government that can end occupation and put the democratic and moral character on the front burner, or one that can only buy time thus increasing Israel’s isolation and frustration.

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