Yesterday, the leaders of the eight parties that form the Jewish state’s new governing-coalition-to-be met for the first time. Although the coalition was officially approved by the president, it is far from a sure thing that it will be voted in by the Knesset—which might not happen until next week. David M. Weinberg considers the merits of this highly unstable and ideologically heterogenous new government:
The coalition agreement . . . reminds me of a business contract where partners divvy-up assets in a situation of zero trust. The documents [specifying its terms] do not read as accords designed to heal the country. . . . In fact, all parties are expected to stymie other parts of the coalition on any issue of controversy, like issues of religion and state, alternative-family rights, diplomatic moves in the Palestinian arena, and even the much-needed, ramped-up policing of the Israeli Arab and Bedouin sectors.
In other words, the coalition deal is a cockamamie contrivance almost purposefully designed to achieve political paralysis. All parties are neutered, except where they might, hopefully, agree on overarching policies, such as health and economic recovery plans, and countering Iran.
Under normal circumstances, I would say that this is a terrible thing; an incoherent and impossible method to govern the country. It could fail in 1,000 different ways.
But these are not normal times. Israel cannot afford a fifth election within three years. Israel’s most critical challenges (like the likelihood of more military conflict with Iran and/or its proxies, and of Arab insurrection in Jerusalem) can best be tackled by a broad right-left government. . . . Even more important is the absolute and urgent need to tone down this country’s political heat; to restrain Israel’s raging political fevers after 32 months of furious campaigning.
Read more on David M. Weinberg: https://davidmweinberg.com/2021/06/04/fetters-on-israels-political-passions/