Archived Update: 20 March 2006

I thank those who came to the meeting last night and those who, due to a combination of factors, made valiant efforts to attend but could not.
Conclusions:

• We still face some organizational challenges before we can form an amutah (non-profit organization)
• We must continue to utilize our personal and local networks to make people aware of our initiative
• We should organize first at the regional level and then call a general gathering later on

So, let's start reaching out at the local level. I will be contacting the individuals on the following committees to make this happen:

• events planning: to put together a "kit" for local outreach meetings
• community relations: to propose a process of working with local community/service organizations
• media relations: to plan on how to engage local media channels

Can you host a parlor meeting? If all of us were to host a single parlor meeting, we could grow exponentially. Remember, we're together on this because we know that individuals make things work. Please contact me (jmichaeljaffe@directrepisrael.org) to arrange one.

We are in the last week of the campaign for Knesset 17 and a new government. As in the last election, some parties are dropping hints about a willingness to consider some kinds of reform. Of course, the proof is in the pudding and the real question is, which parties have included specific reform in their party platforms? Below, I summarize how electoral reform has been addressed by the political parties. Sources include "The Israel Project" and various Google searches. Where published party platforms have addressed electoral and governance reforms, I have included web addresses. I have also emailed party officials and will forward any significant comments I may receive. I welcome any corrections. Note: My comments regarding a party's stand on reform do not constitute any official endorsement.

The following parties have no specific official stand on electoral reform or the restructuring of government:Brit Olam (Palestinian/Israeli Coexistence party), Da'am (Israeli-Arab pary), Gil (Pensioners pary), Green Leaf (Marijuana legalization), HaLev (Banking reform), HaYerukim (Environment), Hetz (Shinui spinoff), Labor, Lechem (Anti-poverty), Leeder, Lev Olim, National Arab Party, National Democratic Assembly (Balad), New Zion, One Future, Shas, Shinui, Strength to the Poor, Tzedek Lakol (Men's rights), Tzomet, United Arab List, Yahadut HaTorah VeHaShabat
Kadima - Despite lavish media coverage of Meir Sheetrit's comment that he personally supports regional, direct elections for MKs, I have come across no official party stand on the matter. Their email contact form page doesn't seem to work, hence I have not been able to email them my questions.

The following parties address electoral and government structural reform in their platforms, as published on their websites or as declared in answers to my direct inquiries.

Hadash (Arab, formerly Communist party)
Opposes any changes to the proportional system.
http://www.hadash.org.il/matzahadash.html

Hazit (National Jewish Front)
Officially supports regional, direct election of all Knesset members; Officially supports a presidential executive branch of government with clear separation from the knesset and a system of checks and balances. Note: This is very similar to our proposed changes to Knesset representation and executive governance.
http://www.hazit.co.il/Default.aspx?tabid=430

Herut
Supports separation of legislative, executive, judicial branches; does not specify how.
http://www.herut.org.il/hebrew_new/maza.html

Likud
Benjamin Netanyahu expressed support for a half-and-half system of proportional and direct elections for the Knesset. While his call for reform is itself a positive, the partial element of proportionalism promotes power-sharing and impedes any progress towards accountability and public service. The Likud platform calls for strengthened checks and balances without specifics. Quasi-specific structural reforms in the platform include calls for

• strengthening the independence of the judiciary,
• reforming the judiciary's oversight of the legislature and the system of appointment of judges to one "accepted in most democratic countries in the world."

Meretz
Calls for strengthening the current parliamentary, coalition system. Demands that any electoral reform preserve the power-sharing system of proportionalism and representing "all groups and opinions" in government institutions.
http://www.myparty.org.il/elections/maza.php?id=25

National Union/National Religious Party
Calls for a stop to judicial interference in legislation, correcting defects in Israel's checks and balances between the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches. will oppose any proposed constitution that allows the judiciary to nullify laws passed by the legislature. Supports (unspecified) change to the system of appointments of high court judges.
http://digital.gns.co.il/leumi/site/matza.html

Shinui
No details in the platform posted on the website. The following information was part of a response to my inquiry to their staff.
Shinui proposes the direct election of MKs in multi-representative districts and the separate, direct election of the prime minister, while raising the representation threshold to 5 mandates or 4%. Shinui also proposes reserving a number of Knesset seats for national election.

Tafnit
Advocates a presidential system with direct election of the president. Instead of coalition MKs filling ministerial roles, the president nomiates a cabinet subject to authorization. Direct elections for every MK, with 60 two-representative districts. MKs are elected for four-year terms with alternating elections every two years for one of the two seats in each district. Note: This is similar to our proposed changes to Knesset representation and executive governance, with a difference being our support for 120 single-representative districts.
http://tafnit.org/apage/2418.php

Yisrael Beitenu
The issue is not addressed by the platform on the party's website, however I received the following reply from my email inquiry to the party:
"We proposed a law to change the system of government to a presidential system and thus succeeded to conclude the constitution for Israel. If only the public were aware of these efforts by our party. Clearly, we will continue our efforts to change the system of government, such that legislators will sit in the legislature and government ministers will be professionals in their fields."

Hoping for better government for us all,
Michael Jaffe
jmichaeljaffe@directrepisrael.org