Külügyi Szemle - A Teleki László Intézet Külpolitikai Tanulmányok Központja folyóirata - 2003 (2. évfolyam)
2003 / 1. szám - KÖZEL-KELET - Gazdik Gyula: The evolution of the Israeli party system
Gyula Gazdik A group of Russian public figures - dissatisfied with Sharansky's performance - established the Yisrael Beitenu /Israel is our home/ under the leadership of the former cabinet chief of Netanyahu, Avigdor Lieberman, in the spring of 1999. Lieberman was forced to resign from the Netanyahu cabinet because of some dubious dealings. The extreme right wing nationalist platform opposes the creation of a Palestinian state - which it construes to be hazardous for Israel - and would only consent to limited canton-type autonomy for the Palestinians. Primarily, it would develop Arab-Israeli relations-based on might-and opposes any effort to change Israel's Zionist character. In February 2000, Lieberman further consolidated his political position by aligning with the two smaller former National Unity splinter parties, Moledet and Takuma to form the National Union bloc.28 The main aim of the Lieberman-led coalition platform includes the creation of a right wing national unity government and the formulation of a written constitution framework to confirm the presidential establishment as the centre of power. The National Union also aims to forge closer ties with the settlers in the occupied territories and treats the settlement policy as a top priority. Following the eruption of the latest Intifada, the popularity of Lieberman - the ambitious former Netanyahu cabinet chief - grew considerably in Russian immigrant circles. Lieberman also wants to augment his non-ethnic grassroots support. Analysts ostensibly differ with regard to the perspectives of the 10 mandate-strong Russian ethnic parties. It is difficult to forecast in this unique melting pot as to how the mounting socio-economic differences are likely to affect this particular social community. However, the unification of the two parties is highly unlikely to occur in the near future for ideological reasons and the enduring antagonism between the two leaders. The separation of the balloting procedure with regard to the premiership and the party list has further enhanced the polarisation of the party system. During the 1996 and in particular the 1999 elections, numerous parties competed with diverse objectives. These include parties representing the interests of regions, such as The Third Way, a mouthpiece of the Golan settlers.29 The other organisations that emerged later include: One Nation /Am Echad/ representing the interests of employees and pensioners; the environment protection Green Party /Yeruchim/; the Green Leaf Party /Ale-Yaroch/, calling for more humane treatment of drug-abusers; The Law of Nature Party, led by former beauty queen Pnina Rosenblum, represents the rights of women and the aged as well as supports the recognition of the Palestinian State etc. The majority of these clusters remained on the periphery of political life and only The Third Way and - three years later - the Am Echad received mandates in the Knesset for a single cycle in 1996. 52 Külügyi Szemle
