Toby Block on the Need for Electoral Reform in Israel

One point not mentioned in Bret Stephens’ excellent analysis is Israel’s need for electoral reform: Every Israeli government has been a coalition formed post-election, often differing dramatically from the voters’ expectations on Election Day. All voters cast their ballots by choosing one party list from a plethora of lists. Parties come and go quickly, with little opportunity for the public to hold politicians responsible for fulfilling promises made in the run-up to the election. As all Knesset seats are filled “at large,” voters do not feel that any MK has the responsibility of attending to the needs of particular segments of Israeli society.

It should take time, effort, and money to start a party so that its members will be reluctant to see it dissolve. Party platforms should be distributed to the public and parties should have to obtain voters’ signatures before being allowed to stand for election. Parties should also participate in public debates, followed by polling to assess each party’s chances of crossing the election threshold. Those failing to do so would be required to sit out the current election, becoming eligible to try again only after the elected Knesset had completed its term.

The goal is to have fewer, more stable governments. A party which holds 50 or more Knesset seats can easily form a government with one or two parties that hold ten seats each and be able to stay in command even if a few MK’s decide to move to the Opposition. Recent elections have not had any parties with more than 30 seats or so. This has resulted in very fragile coalitions with barely more than 61 seats held by collaborations of many small parties, always in danger of falling if one small party or another decides to leave the government.