Israeli Politics for Beginners Soc 2 – Monday 15:50-17:00

Last year this was called…

Know your Peres from your Peretz Tuesday 18:00-19:20 An interactive introduction to Israeli Politics

Hopefully in an hour you will Find out how the Israeli electoral system works Learn who the main political parties are and what they stand for Know the results of the last election and who is currently in government Have an idea why things change so fast. Please stop and ask questions any time!

The System – The Knesset But - Only one in the last 8 Knessets completed their term.

The System – The Knesset All Israeli Citizens over 18 can vote if they are in Israel The system is proportional representation and a party needs 2% of the vote to get seats (>2 seats) (Though at least three parties are coalitions of other groups so it’s kind of 17)

The Issues Peace process – land for peace, Oslo, Road Map, checkpoints, targetted killing, talks with Abbas, Hamas, Qassam rockets. (Iran, Lebanon) Settlement policy (linked to peace process) + Jerusalem + Seperation Fence. DISENGAGEMENT Economy – poverty, social welfare, schools, raising minimum wage, pensions. Minority Rights State and Religion – shabbat, weddings and funerals, education, military service. The Environment The Army (budget and conscription) Corruption

Election Fever Posters, flyers, banners, bumper stickers, TV adverts. T-shirted kids standing at junctions, stands on the high street. This goes almost as much for local (mayoral) elections as national!

The Parties

½ The Parties (and leaders) Kadima – Ehud Olmert Labour-meimad – Ehud Barak Shas – Eli Yishai Likud – Binyamin Netanyahu Israel Beitenu – Avigdor Leiberman National Union – NRP – Benny Elon

The Rest Gil – Rafi Eitan United Torah Judaism – Yakov Litzman Meretz/Yachad – Yossi Beilin Ra’am/Ta’al – Ibrahim Tzartzut Hadash – Mohammad Barake Balad – Azmi Bishara

2006 Results Parties%Seats+/- Kadima22.02%29new Labour-Meimad15.06%19-2 Shas9.53%12+1 Likud8.989%12-15 Israel Beytenu8.985%11+8 National Union 7.14%9 National Religious Party 5.92%7new Gil4.69%6+1 United Torah3.77%5 Judaism3.02%4+2 Meretz-Yachad2.74%30 Ra'am-Ta'al2.30%30 Hadash Balad

The turnout was the lowest in Israeli legislative election history, 63.6% of eligible voters, compared to 68.9% in 2003 and 78.7% in The turnout of 62.5% in 2001 prime-ministerial election is the lowest in nationwide elections.

PortfolioMinisterParty Prime MinisterEhud OlmertKadima Vice Prime Minister Vice Prime Minister Minister in the PM's Office for State Policy Haim RamonKadima Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi LivniKadima Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Defence Minister of Defence Ehud BarakLabour Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Industry, Trade and Labour Eli YishaiShas Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Transportation Minister of Transportation Shaul MofazKadima Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Strategic Affairs Avigdor LiebermanYisrael Beiteinu Minister of Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentShalom SimhonLabour Minister of CommunicationsAriel AtiasShas

PortfolioMinisterParty Minister of Construction and HousingZe'ev BoimKadima Minister of Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Raleb MajadeleLabour Minister of EducationYuli TamirLabour Minister of the EnvironmentGideon EzraKadima Minister of FinanceRoni Bar-OnKadima Minister of HealthYaakov Ben-YezriGil Minister of Immigrant Absorption Minister of Negev and Galilee Development Yaakov EdriKadima Minister of the InteriorMeir SheetritKadima Minister of Internal SecurityAvi DichterKadima Minister of JusticeDaniel FriedmannNone Minister of National Infrastructure Benjamin Ben- Eliezer Labour Minister of Pensioner AffairsRafi EitanGil Minister of TourismYitzhak AharonovichYisrael Beiteinu

PortfolioMinisterParty Minister of Welfare and Social Services Minister of the Diaspora, Society, and Fight Against Antisemitism Isaac HerzogLabour Minister without Portfolio Minister without Portfolio (Liaison for the Civil Beit Dinim and other Torah Affairs)Beit Dinim Yitzhak CohenShas Minister without Portfolio Minister without Portfolio (Responsible for liaison with the Knesset)Knesset Ruhama Avraham Kadim a Minister without PortfolioAmi AyalonLabour Minister in the Finance MinistryMeshulam NahariShas That’s 27 ministries – 11 to Kadima, 7 to Labour, 4 to Shas, 2 to Gil, 2 to YB 1 non-aligned

Time for a commercial break

Party Politics You will each get details of a party currently in the Knesset. In groups you need to become that party. Using the resources available make an election campaign for your party A poster, maybe an advert or a speech. You have 15 minutes to prepare and 3 minutes to present! We will have an election at the end!

Know your Peres from your Peretz Amir Peretz – Moroccan Born leader of Labour Party, defence minister, former head of trade union Shimon Peres – Polish born elder statesman of politics and the Labour party (now Kadima). Twice prime minister but never won an election. Former hawk and dove. Responsible for many weapons purchases in his early career including possible nuclear reactors