Israel Election 2019 : Will it mark the End of Netanyahu Era?
Israel Election 2019 : For the first time in the history of Israel, the country will be heading towards holding two elections in the same year. In April election for the 21st Knesset was held, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to secure majority. Months after April election, Likud, the political party of Benjamin Netanyahu, failed to secure a coalition therefore on 29th May 21st Knesset passed a resolution to hold a re-poll on September 17,2019.
Predict: Will Benjamin Netanyahu return as PM of Israel Again?
What is a Knesset?
Knesset (assembly) is the unicameral national legislature of Israel. Knesset passes all laws, elects President and Prime Minister, approves Cabinet and supervises the work of the government. The total strength of Knesset is 120 members elected from single nationwide election. In April, election to 21st Knesset, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Likud won 35 seats while a newly formed Blue and White also secured the same number of seats, 35. However, after number of attempts to secure majority by coalition, Netanyahu failed paving a way for early election for 22nd Knesset on 17 September 2019.
Israel’s upcoming election in September will decide the political career of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In July 2019, Benjamin Netanyahu became the longest serving Prime Minister of Israel. He is the biggest right-wing leader in Israel. His policy has been completely in the benefits of Israel. His election campaign for the upcoming election is based upon his bromance with strong right-wing leaders of the world including Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, it for the time to decide whether, Likud, the right-wing political party of Israel will continue its decade long rule in Israel or not!
What has changed since April’s Election?
In Israel’s parliamentary system, no single party has ever won an outright majority. In April election, Benjamin Netanyahu and his smaller natural allies came together to have 60 seats, one short of majority. The biggest setback for Netanyahu has been from Avigdor Liberman, who has backed Netanyahu since decades but refused to back him after April’s election. The potential kingmaker, Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu won 5 seats in April’s election.
The upcoming September election is set to witness lesser political parties running for the power. The smaller political parties have decided to come together to fight the election. In April, which saw parties like the Joint List and Habayit Hayehudi break down into factions, this time like-minded parties are forging alliances and merging with ideological allies, on the right and left alike.
Benjamin’s Competitor
Former military chief, Banny Gantz’s Blue and White Party emerged last election as a serious rival to Netanyahu. The party won equal number of seats that Netanyahu’s Likud won. A recent opinion poll shows Lidud winning 5 seats less than 35 seats it had won April election and Banny Gantz’s Blue and White may win 29 seats.
A new entrant who could deny Benjamin Netanyahu’s return to power will be the former Prime Minister Ehud Barak. His newly formed political party, Israel Democratic Party hopes to bring back “hope and courage” to Israel. In recent poll published shows that his party may win 4 out of 120 seats of Knesset. Previously Barak has led the Labour party in 2007.
Crowd’s Verdict
For the upcoming election, the Israelis considers it be election about economy, social issues, security and foreign affairs. Many consider religion to be of less importance. Benjamin Netanyahu who have held on to Israel’s power for 13 years is facing the toughest election. His return to power will solely depend on his ability to forge alliance after the election. In our prediction market too Benjamin Netanyahu’s popularity has seen a massive decline. September 17, Israel Election 2019, will either make Netanyahu or end his political career for ever.
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