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
The evolution of the Israeli party system enjoyed the largest grassroots support, however, he became „worn-out" in the Sharon government. His adversaries had frequently accused him of trying to transform the party into a second Likud and this view endured despite his more flexible attitude with respect to the Palestinian settlement than those of the Likud leader.34 Influential kingmakers have turned the spotlight on a third candidate, Amram Mitzna. As senior civil servant, he had come into sharp conflict with Sharon at the time of the Lebanese war, and although he served successfully as mayor for ten years, he lacked experience in the higher reaches of political life. He had been expected to unify the party and guide it back to its previous prominent position. The efforts of his supporter power-base succeeded in the first round, since the membership of the Labour Party elected the dovish politician as party leader on November 19 with an overwhelming majority.3 Subsequently, Mitzna had to steadily steer his party's political course towards the centre. He also had to take into account that the changes in public opinion reinforced the centre and the right wing. Opinion polls had revealed similar trends within the Labour Party itself and the proportion of left wing sympathisers declined to one third of the membership. The composition of the Labour Knesset list also mirrored this trend. The change in orientation is well illustrated by the case of the prominent proponent of the Oslo process - former justice Minister Yossi Beilin - who came in 36th at the list elections held on December 9, which in terms of Knesset mandates was equal to zero.36 Having recognised his isolation within the party - the politician who occupied the 4th position on the 1999 list - joined the Meretz with his group of followers and became the 11th of the Meretz list. The leader of the party, Yossi Sárid, in conjunction with Beilin, announced their intention to transform the Meretz into a social democratic party. Analysts of Labour strategy were satisfied with the changes, since they stipulated that the altered list would attract more votes from the centre. In conjunction with the war on terrorism, an Israeli-Palestinian settlement is a paramount aim of the Labour platform. Mitzna construed that since the conflict with the Palestinians has been consuming the entire country's energy, occupation should end and negotiated political separation should be carried out as soon as possible. He envisages this process along the lines of the Clinton plan.37 If this plan were to fail, then Israel would have no other choice, but unilateral separation and the Jewish State would feel justified to enter the territory of the Palestinian Authority or state. According to the party programme, a wall would have to be erected for security reasons. The party also stresses the need to rearrange budgetary priorities, the implementation of social services, less state financial support for the settlers, the separation of Church and State and the improvement of the social condition of the country's Arab population.38 Since the elections, Mitzna has not been able to consolidate his position. His numerous influential opponents in the Central Committee 2003. tavasz 55
