Главная страница | Контакты | Случайная страница Автомобили Астрономия Биология География Дом и сад Другие языки Другое Информатика История Культура Литература Логика Математика Медицина Металлургия Механика Образование Охрана труда Педагогика Политика Право Психология Религия Риторика Социология Спорт Строительство Технология Туризм Физика Философия Финансы Химия Черчение Экология Экономика Электроника

INTRODUCTION

A SHORT GUIDE TO THE

ISRAELI POLITICAL SYSTEM

Contents

· Introduction

· The Executive

· The Legislature

· Political Parties

· The Judiciary

· Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

For anyone interested in political systems, that of the state of Israel is particularly fascinating for a number of reasons.

1. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East, arguably the most troubled region in the world where Israel is surrounded by states and forces that wish that it did not exist and have repeatedly tried to ensure that it does not.
2. It is one of a tiny number of countries in the world - another is the United Kingdom - that does not have a written constitution, since religious political parties blocked adoption of a constitution at independence in 1948 and the project has never been completed. Instead there are 11 Basic Laws. In 2003, the parliament began to draft an official constitution based on these laws - but the project continues.
3. It is one of a small number of democratic countries in the world - others are Finland, Slovakia, Moldova and New Zealand - that has a unicameral legislature. This is called the Knesset.
4. It is highly unusual in operating both a national list system of election to the legislature together with a very low minimum threshold for membership of the legislature (currently 2%) which, in the current fractured state of Israeli politics, virtually guarantees fragmented representation in the legislature and a coalition in government.
5. Probably more than any other stable democracy in the world, it has a fluctuating structure of political parties with mergers, splits, and creations almost a permanent part of the political scene.
6. Whereas in most democracies, the main cleavage between the largest political parties is ideological - broadly Left versus Right - in Israel politics is more complicated than that with issues like security and religion having a major influence in the orientation of parties and the voting by electors.
7. More so that any other democratic state in the world, Israel owes its existence to the political, economic and military support of the United States - although this does not guarantee American influence (for instance, President Barack Obama failed to halt the continued spread of illegal settlements on the West Bank as part of an effort to encourage peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians).