There was no blue and white smoke emanating from the roof of the prime minister’s office in Jerusalem today, but not long before the College of Cardinals sent up their signals in Rome announcing the election of a new pope, reports began to circulate that after nearly two months Israel’s leading political parties had finally concluded their negotiations and a new government has been formed. Reportedly, the government will be formally announced on Saturday night and sworn in on Monday, only two days before President Obama arrives in the country.
The outlines of the agreement that seems to have been concluded were apparent as soon as the votes were counted after the January election for a new Knesset. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud-Beitenu Party will join forces with the two other big winners, Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid and Naftali Bennett’s Habayit Hayehudi as well as one of the losers, Tzipi Livni’s Hatnua, to form the new coalition. The fractious talks in which both Netanyahu and Lapid appeared to be bluffing and threatening each other up until the last moment would seem to indicate that this Cabinet will be at each other’s throats and might not last the full four years until the next election. The fierce rivalries and even personal grudges among these four leaders will provide plenty of fodder for Cabinet leaks and feuds. But with only four parties in the government and with little disagreement among them on the most important economic and social issues facing Israel, predictions of doom might be misplaced.
Yet more important than the contentious dynamic that will exist among those inside the tent will be the question of who won’t be there: the ultra-Orthodox parties. Their absence and the opening for reform of the draft system, as well as the potential end of the patronage gravy train for Haredi institutions, will have a bigger impact on the nation than any disagreements among the party leaders.
With Obama about to arrive in the country, most of the attention of the world remains focused on the question of whether this new government will accede to demands to make concessions to the Palestinians in order to restart peace negotiations. But as the election campaign proved, most Israelis have long since given up on the peace process and are primarily interested in economic and social issues. The banishing of Shas and United Torah Judaism, which have been mainstays of almost every governing coalition for the past 30 years, to the backbenches has created a unique opportunity to create change.
No Haredim means after decades of failed attempts, this government will change the draft system to require the conscription of far more ultra-Orthodox Jews into Israel’s army. Though even this breakthrough is something of a compromise, since they will be able to stay out until 21 as opposed to the age of 18 for other Israelis, it does represent an effort to equalize the burden of service. Their absence will also enable needed reform of the education system.
It may be too much to ask that this team of Cabinet rivals will take the next step in terms of reform and begin to change the electoral system to one that will have constituencies rather than the ultra-democratic proportional system that has heretofore given the Haredim outsized influence. But even if they just raise the minimum number of votes needed for a party to make it into the Knesset, it will be another step forward toward a more workable system.
Israel’s next government won’t preside over the end of a conflict that can only conclude as the result of a sea change among the Palestinians. But it does have the power to enact some fundamental changes that could end some longstanding inequities. Though there may not be much love lost between the foursome of party leaders, if they hang together long enough to accomplish that much they will have still done a lot.
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I would have at least expected Commentary to not use the very loaded term "ultra-Orthodox," coined by those who have neither any knowledge nor sympathy for Judaism. Certainly, reform Jews who do not believe the Torah descends directly from the Almighty and do not observe practically any Jewish ritual including Kashrut, Shabbat observance and praying three times daily are not called "ultra-reform," as much as such a term would describe them with greater accuracy. Those you call "ultra-Orthodox" actually call themselves Haredi or Haredim, which means fearful of the word of the Almighty, and has its origins in both Isaiah 66:5, "Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble [chared] at His word" and Ezra 10:3, "Those that tremble [chared] at the commandment of our God". Commentary that still claims to be a Jewish publication should use the appropriate term and not a pejorative.
Well said – thank you. I completely agree with you.
Ultra-Orthodox is shorthand for "Jews who are too non-assimilated for my comfort."
excellent point n nI will add, it pains me to read and hear Jews refer to Judea and Samaria as 'the west bank'….using the arab narrative n nand Jews living there as 'settlers'
Especially when these odious terms are regularly repeated in Commentary, a magazine that has the conceit to consider itself strongly pro-Israel. As long as Jews consider to embrace the terms and language of our anti-Semitic enemies we will never be a free people.
My wife has pointed out that this isn't just about the Chareidim and the draft. It's also about the religious Zionists. Apparently the Tal Law doesn't allow for the Hesder program either. This could be a concern for Bennett, or at least his constituency.
A recent article pointed out a secular Labor spokesman who blasted the haredim for not serving and in the next breath lamented the increasingly high proportion of National Religious who wre becoming combat officers. n nSo religious Jews are bad if they don't serve, and bad if they do.
can't post what I am thinking except good that the Education Ministry was the last hurdle and really do not want to think this post is recommending Israel adopt gerrymandering.
THE WORLD DROPPED EVERY NEWS AND PUBLISHED THIS INCIVILITY. Have we any honor left? nPeace is a mirage that Israelis enjoyed chasing for the past 7000 biblical years. Listen to the bricks of Auschwitz Dachau Birkenau. Israel turned Peace to a boring game to extort Jews worldwide for handouts. It’s an occupational hazard. Israelis hates it as much Arabs do. I think they are more competent to get it than Arabs. Netanyahu's bloc joined "Yesh Atid" and pro-settler “Jewish Home". You must be kidding. Obama must be insulting America if he left Israel without taming Bibi to dumb down and quit moaning about al-Qaeda and Iran each time he disappears outta headlines. Ain’t funny no more ain’t boring neither its stooooooooopid. It’s foolish to think that the 25 figures of American Jewish community, including many of Obama’s Zionist supporters mentioned in The Times of Israel & JTA’s report were to edutaining President Obama about Benjamin Netanyahu Genius Mindset. Obama ain’t thick as Bibi, he knows that he’s gonna visit the biggest loser on planet earth who’s in the office for over sixty days and he’s unable for form a government. The Israelis elected Bibi to insult him and punish him as Knesset hen. Benjamin Netanyahu should hang himself for screwing-up the last Gaza stunt show. Bibi called draft of 85,000 reserves – only 15,000 stateless unemployable kleptomaniac settlers showed-up to go to gaza to kill Palestinian babies, elders, women and most importantly steal Gazan Creditcards to eTrade on eBay. Bibi alias Benzion Mileikowsky like any East European Urban Reject craves for Power & Property that he ain’t there. Bibi doesn’t know that he has no time, no friends, no support, no power, no authority he’s a doublethinker. President Obama will be in Tel Aviv next Friday for a Mugshot at the Kotel. Mimicking john Boehner was stooopid strategy Benjamin Netanyahu fostered to snub Obama on camera. Boehner is a redneck and Bibi ain’t. Benjamin Netanyahu is a bleached Hebrew daydreaming WASP. n
. n you should try and recapture the paragraph n it is impossible to read your rantings
passion for faking convection nyou're pregnant sweetheart. consult your gynecologist. relax and open your legs wider next time. n
bibis boogers & his fathers bunyans have more sechel than your next zillion rants–these endless factoids–Iran as Bibi PR stunt, the last Gazan war being fought only by settlers, that Bibi is mystically a pauperized Eastern European (he's a sabra by way of the United States and has lived within a comfortable support network–a sense of entitlement doesn't necessarily derive from privation)–glance against the main point– nthe big deal is not who is in the government (Bibi and two sharpers–the pot pie Tzvi Yehuda Kook's tanor popped out from the cold ashes and the latest sharper to burnish the two beats behind the last American wave dream of modernity we've enjoyed since Monitin promised the Endless World of a thousand tenugot in its glossy pages) but who isn't. nPerhaps if we give you a sharp rap on the noggin with those bricks of Auschwitz Dachau Birkenau you'll awake from these fever dreams. or just conceivably shut up. nEither way would be an improvement on what we still have so far. ndon't worry about the obg–no conception here, spread from 45 to 180 degrees but the position does a 360 back to starting position and nothing gets past
Replying to besht2003 nI totally agree with you!
i'll put that hamlatza on the refrigerator door with a magnetic pineapple …on the inside–for now we are all puzzling as to whether that fellow really is Obaid Karki really is cloture or you just ripped off a Frank Zappa album cover n nSheik Yerbouti Obaid
Replying to charleston npassion for faking convection nyou're pregnant sweetheart. consult your gynecologist. relax and open your legs wider next time. n
Is that you Senator Hagel? n nIf so, I would like to commend you for your improved coherence since your confirmation hearing.
Replying to MainesMichael nyes he's secretary Senator Hagel ni never bet on wrong horse nthank you
If only American politics were as interesting as Israeli politics…
will the editors allow clotures disgusting, typically muslim attempt to sexually humiliate a poster?
I think they will tolerate him. It's not as if he was Haredi, or "ultra-Orthodox".
Just cut off the money to the rabbi;s and yeshivot and this problem will solver itself.
Here's an idea – repeal the law that requires them to choose between submitting to deliberate prolonged attempts to destroy their religious faith by serving in the army, and the humiliation of a life of poverty and begging. In other words, stop conditioning the right to a work permit on having served in the army. n nAnd if you are truly interested in 'sharing the burden' ( a term that is somehow never applied to educated leftists who don't serve, or to Arabs), stop using the army as a means to enforce anti-religious social norms and focus instead on defending the country.
How does the IDF harm Jewish religious life?
the new law will be a variation–don't do national service, enter the workforce but say goodbye to a variety of stipends–the issue now for the constituency of Shas-UTJ is that the NRP in its incarnation as JH is not drawing its red lines as to what is a proper IDF environment at modesty concerns. My personal hunch is that for most soldiers Shabbat remains a day of inactivity. And that JH does not object to men working with women in the army or outside of it, on a daily basis–including physical proximity, not intimate–but mixed work with women who may not have long sleeves or head covering etc.. A major realignment appears to be taking place . I suspect that 20 years ago Bennett would not have been a natural fit for Mafdal membership let alone leadership And the alliance with a Yesh Atid would have been rejected.
I don't think a devoutly religious person can be an effective national leader in Israel or anywhere else considering how religion typically deals with absolutes and politics typically deals with compromises. For example, what would happen if all of Israel's political and military leaders observed the Sabbath?
You appear to know very little of Sabbath observance. (That is meant as an introduction to the topic, not as a criticism.) The actual laws of Sabbath observance are complex. One reason we have rabbis is to delineate what is commanded, what is optional, and what is prohibited. I am NOT a rabbi, but here is a brief summary of some of the relevant factors. n nNecessary military activities (combat, flying combat missions or combat support missions, other combat support, surveillance, supplying combat troops or combat areas, recon and a host of other things) are not a violation of Sabbath. In fact, Jewish law commands us to do what is necessary to preserve life. n nBarracks inspections, formations, bunk making, assemblies, painting things for the sake of painting them, parades, paperwork that can safely be postponed without endangering life, much if not all training and drill, and a host of other activities are prohibited by Jewish law on the Sabbath. n nThere are plenty of rabbis in the IDF who have laid down clear guidelines on what is and is not Sabbath violation. From things I have read, it appears to me that there are also plenty of anti-religious officers and ncos who make a point of defying those guidelines out of a distaste for religious soldiers and in order to show whose boss.
Who typically gets Israel's hilonim vote?
all true–but within the entire spectrum of Jewish Zionist parties, they've been outmaneuvered and though Shas-UTJ can be lined against Yesh Atid, it is Yesh Atid + Likud-Yisrael Beiteinu + Jewish Home (successor to NRP) that has sidelined them. n nIt should be noted that the proposed legislation does not criminalize non-participation in the draft or national service-& permits non-participants to enter the workforce, but it does remove all financial benefits and subsidies for non-participants which will hit them personally and their supporting yeshivas and social institutions. A big deal.