Key issues Israeli legislative election, 2006

1 key issues

1.1 israeli–palestinian conflict

1.1.1 fighting palestinian militancy
1.1.2 solutions conflict


1.2 economic , social issues
1.3 israel jewish , democratic state

1.3.1 relations between jewish law (halacha) , state
1.3.2 relations between jews , arabs

key issues
the israeli–palestinian conflict
fighting palestinian militancy

during al-aqsa intifada, more thousand israelis killed in palestinian militant attacks. israel s security policy during time focused on arresting or killing members of militant organizations, through frequent military excursions palestinian territories , (somewhat controversially) targeted killings, , curb movement of suspected militants – would-be suicide bombers – through use of checkpoints. policy won support of jewish mainstream, elements in jewish left, vast majority of arab population, vehemently opposed saw excessive response security threat. claimed israel s policy in fact encouraging more violence palestinian side. despite decrease in violence during 2005 , 2006, or perhaps because of it, popular support security policy remained high among israeli public, continued fear suicide bombings , qassam rocket attacks.

during 2006 electoral campaign, center , right parties vowed continue relentless fight against palestinian militants. labor, traditionally known dovish views, put combating terrorism @ top of agenda on conflict. opposition current security policy, use of targeted killings , existence of checkpoints on palestinian soil, comes jewish left parties such meretz , arab parties.

solutions conflict

in wake of disengagement plan, political field in israel split 2 distinct groups: in favour of withdrawing or of west bank (unofficially nicknamed blues ), , wish area remain under israeli control (so-called orange ). in particular, ariel sharon , faction left likud form kadima because of support of ending israeli control on west bank. however, 2 groups divided internally practical steps need taken during next few years.

meretz supported bilateral negotiations path towards peace.
labor , kadima both advocated further negotiations, supposed non-existence of partner peace on palestinian side (following hamas victory in 2006 palestinian elections) brings them consider shaping israel s permanent borders through unilateral withdrawal of west bank, leaving in place large settlement blocs , jewish neighbourhoods in east jerusalem. these borders marked completed separation barrier. kadima leader ehud olmert used term convergence plan (תכנית ההתכנסות).
yisrael beytenu supported continued israeli control of settlements, offers cede israeli arab cities , uninhabited territories palestinian authority in exchange.
likud advocated expansion of separation barrier include more territory on israeli side, , continued israeli control of jordan valley, whole of jerusalem , settlement blocs.
national union-national religious party vehemently opposed more unilateral withdrawals, , supports strengthening of jewish settlements in west bank.
herut – national movement , jewish national front, 2 fringe nationalist groups, supported massive population transfer of arabs under israeli control – both palestinians , israeli citizens – neighbouring arab countries solution conflict. while herut supports voluntary transfer through creation of compensation mechanism, front not rule out forced transfer.

economic , social issues

peretz labor campaign billboard in tel aviv, ki higi hazman – because time has come

since israel s establishment, political scene has been dominated security , peace issues. major parties divided different approaches regard israeli-arab , israeli–palestinian conflicts.

the 2006 elections mark first time major party – labor party – has placed economic , social issues on top of agenda. attributed amir peretz s surprise victory on shimon peres in november 2005 labor leadership election; peretz had left party few years earlier form socialist 1 nation, had merged labor.

labor s social democratic approach, includes promises raise minimum wage , allocate pension every worker, stands in sharp contrast neo-liberal agenda promoted likud leader binyamin netanyahu. serving finance minister 2003 2005, netanyahu led policy encouraged economic growth , lower taxes @ expense of israel s long-running welfare mechanism. has alienated him many likud supporters, traditionally hail lower , middle classes. in campaign, netanyahu claimed have done save israeli economy collapse.

in addition labor, orthodox religious shas, has claimed champion poor in israeli society, attacked netanyahu s policies during campaign, did number of small (and new) socialist parties.

israel jewish , democratic state

relations between jewish law (halacha) , state

from 1948 2003, religious parties played part in every coalition formed in israel. zionist religious parties focused on maintaining balance between observants , seculars in issues such education, kashrut, keeping sabbath , matrimonial law, while haredi parties demanded funds religious scholars , continued exemption of followers military service (decided on david ben-gurion in 1951.) of alienated many secular israelis, felt personal freedoms being infringed upon , unfairly carrying of burden. led rise of shinui, @ 2003 elections won 15 out of 120 seats , joined ariel sharon s coalition. shinui failed in making significant changes status quo on religious issues, , quit government in 2005 after sharon decided transfer funds orthodox united torah judaism party. internal quarrel caused knesset members shinui form new party (hetz); both parties ran in 2006 elections, although neither of them received mandates.

shinui, hetz, meretz, , ale yarok wish promote see key secular , democratic principles:

allowing businesses remain open , public transportation operate during sabbath;
abolishing orthodox monopoly on conducting marriage , divorce between jewish couples (which in fact prevents many couples getting married in israel) instituting civil marriage, including homosexuals;
allowing public sale of pork (forbidden under kashrut laws);
committing orthodox religious scholars military service.

the various religious parties, both zionist (national religious party) , haredi (shas, united torah judaism) strictly oppose these changes. wish see israel s jewish character strengthened through further enforcement of sabbath , changes in educational system.

relations between jews , arabs

israeli arabs constitute 20% of population in israel. many israeli-arab groups claim continued institutional , social discrimination against them in israel. because not jews , many identify ethnically palestinians identity clashes citizenship in jewish state. there large disparities in general living standard , education between israeli arabs , non-arab israeli population; have lower participation rate in workforce. discrimination , lower proportion of females in workforce cited reasons this.

the arab parties, largest of united arab list, balad , hadash (a jewish-arab communist party, arab composition , electorate), advocate abolition of forms of ethnic inequality, , establishment of democratic bi-national state.