How Government Is Formed in Israel: Parliamentary Democracy

Introduction: Public Policy and Israeli Democracy

Public policies and democracies are central to the establishment and operation of a government. This is no different for Israel, which is one of the nations that has undergone multiple elections in the quest for stable administration. Netanyahu's leadership in Israel serves as an ideal reference point for understanding how government is formed there. It also supports the quote attributed to Thomas Jefferson: "That government is best which governs least" (Monticello.org, n.d.).

Israel adopts a parliamentary democracy that integrates executive, legislative, and judicial structures. The principal institutions of governance are the Presidency, the Government, the Knesset (parliament), the State Controller, and the Judiciary (Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles, n.d.). The Government, which comprises ministers, is the executive authority in Israel. It is charged with running the country's affairs internally and externally, as well as responding to security matters. The law requires the Government to serve for four years. However, this tenure can be shortened when the prime minister resigns, is impeached, or dies, or when the Government replaces the prime minister with an acting member from the Knesset. In the latter scenario — and amid a vote of no confidence — the prime minister and the associated Government hold their positions until a new government is constituted (Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles, n.d.).

How the Israeli Government Is Formed

The formation of government follows a series of consultations. The president presents a member of parliament and charges that individual with the responsibility of constituting the Government. It is important to note that Israel's president is primarily ceremonial with minimal political roles. The chosen Knesset member is expected to submit a list of ministers who will form the incoming Government. This must be completed within 28 days of being given the responsibility. The Knesset then approves the ministers, after which they serve in various capacities, such as heading a ministry. The chosen ministers must be residents and citizens of Israel; they are not required to be Knesset members, although that is often the case. When the Government and the prime minister agree, ministers may appoint deputy ministers — and the latter are required to be Knesset members.

The formed Government develops structures for decision-making and other responsibilities, holding formal meetings every week while allowing for additional meetings as needs arise. The Government may also use ministerial committees to fulfill its responsibilities. Due to the frequent lack of a sufficient Knesset quorum, Israel's Government has historically relied on parties and coalitions (Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles, n.d.).

A typical recent example is the dissolution of parliament engineered by Naftali Bennett to bring down his own Government. This occurred just one year after he assumed office as Prime Minister, prompting a new election — the fifth within a single four-year legal term. Bennett had governed through a coalition, but it became increasingly difficult to maintain. These events gave Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, an opportunity for a political comeback. Following the dissolution, Yair Lapid assumed the role of acting prime minister and caretaker of the Government. He was to retain this capacity during the election and negotiation phase, which includes forming a government with at least a majority of 61 seats in parliament (Kershner, 2022).

Coalition Politics and Electoral Instability

The Government of Israel follows a system of proportional electoral representation, making it impossible for any single party to command a majority in parliament. Indeed, the defeat of Netanyahu was powered by the formation of coalitions in which larger parties sought the support of smaller ones. Smaller parties cooperated with the aim of protecting their own interests, which ultimately led to disproportionate influence in the government. For instance, Bennett led a small party but governed through an eight-party coalition that integrated multiple opponents holding diverse political ideologies (Kershner, 2022).

Liebermann (2021) notes that Bennett's government won by the narrow margin of 60 to 59 through what he describes as the strangest coalition ever witnessed in Israel. The coalition notably included an Arab party — a historic first in Israeli government formation. The author notes that Bennett was fully aware of the political challenges that came with such ideological diversity. He had warned about political polarization, which later became starkly evident during his government's dissolution.

Conclusion

The formation of government in Israel is anchored in parliamentary democracy and electoral proportions that determine the balance of governmental power. The ability of the Prime Minister to exercise executive authority is at the mercy of coalition members who collectively control legislation and, by extension, the government's ability to function without disruption. As discussed, the drive to bring down Netanyahu's government was partly rooted in a desire for less concentrated political control. However, achieving that goal has itself proved deeply challenging, compelling Israel to head into repeated elections and underscoring the structural tensions inherent in its system of proportional representation and coalition governance.

References

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Liebermann, O. (2021, June 13). Israel's new prime minister is sworn in, ending Netanyahu's 12-year grip on power. CNN. Retrieved April 16, 2022, from https://edition.cnn.com/2021/06/13/middleeast/israel-knesset-vote-prime-minister-intl/index.html

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