Elections, Coalitions, and Governance

Abstract

The constitutional reform of 1992 targeted the chief executive in the erroneous belief that the proposed reform would remedy the inherent problems of governance related to the electoral tie between those parties associated with the ‘left’ and those affiliated with the ‘right.’ In Israeli usage of that period, the left tended to be more conciliatory regarding the future of the territories taken in the Six Days War of 1967 and toward the Palestinians, and was perceived to support secular, liberal policies that were often opposed by orthodox Jewish groups. The right advocated policies that were more militant and it was more likely to support demands made by religious parties. Religious parties were always prominent in coalition calculations. All governing parties in varying degrees acquiesced to religious legislation and budget appropriations for religious schools and institutions to assure the continued support of the religious parties in their rule.