ISRAEL DEBATES REFORM

In: Journal of democracy, Band 4, Heft 1, S. 66-78

Abstract

THIS ARTICLE CONSIDERS THE FEATURES OF ISRAEL'S ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND THE ONGOING EFFORTS TO REFORM IT. THE SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY CHARACTERIZED BY AN EXTREMELY RIGID FORM OF PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION (PR) IN WHICH THE COUNTRY IS TREATED AS ONE LARGE CONSTITUENCY, AND A LOW (1.5 PERCENT) THRESHOLD OF THE NATIONAL VOTE REQUIRED TO GAIN REPRESENTATION IN THE LEGISLATURE. THE WEAKNESSES OF THIS SYSTEM, LEGISLATIVE GRIDLOCK AND UNDUE POWER AND INFLUENCE OF SMALL PARTIES, ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY OBVIOUS. MOST REFORMERS AGREE, HOWEVER, THAT ISRAEL MUST RETAIN THE BASIC PRINCIPLE OF PR. VIABLE REFORMS INCLUDE RAISING THE THRESHOLD TO 3 OR 3.5 PERCENT AND PROVIDING FOR A CONSTITUENCY ELEMENT SO AS TO SECURE A CLOSER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEGISLATORS AND VOTERS. A SYSTEM WHICH WOULD COMBINE PR AND INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUENCIES, PATTERNED AFTER A MULTIMEMBER CONSTITUENCY SYSTEM (THE "SWEDISH" MODEL) IS ISRAEL'S BEST HOPE FOR OPENING UP THE POLITICAL SYSTEM SO THAT THE VOTER ENJOYS A GREATER DEGREE OF INFLUENCE IN CHOOSING CANDIDATES AND SIGNALING COALITIONS.