The next Israeli government: A perspective from California

The Israeli president, Isaac Herzog, should give an unconditional pardon to Benjamin Netanyahu, ending the years-long interminable trial, and the boycott against Netanyahu and his Likud party, a boycott that has weakened the foundations of a parliamentary democracy. This will pave the way for the establishment of a broad secular-based Zionist government and will avoid falling again into a cycle of repeated inconclusive elections that Israel does not have the luxury nor the time to experiment with (nor the concomitant increase in unrest and vitriolic rhetoric that will accompany them.)

Although I am not particularly fond of any of the Israeli political parties, my suggestion is:

If the Times of Israel’s prediction is correct, this coalition will have 63 seats out of 120 seats in the Israeli parliament (A minimum of 61 Knesset members is needed to get the approval of the Knesset.)

In addition, the newly formed government will include three specially created ministries:

1) Ministry of Jewish religion affairs, which will be held by an Israeli religious Jew with highly regarded academic and administrative credentials, not ostensibly affiliated to any of the present political religious parties. Prerequisite: He/she should recognize Israel as a Jewish and Democratic State.

2) Ministry of Israeli Arab affairs, which will be held by an Arab Israeli with highly regarded academic and administrative credentials, not ostensibly affiliated to any of the present political Arab parties. Prerequisite: He/she should recognize Israel as a Jewish and Democratic State.

3) Ministry of Jewish Diaspora affairs, which will be held by an Israeli or Diasporic Jew, with highly regarded academic and administrative credentials, not ostensibly affiliated to any of the present Israeli political parties. Prerequisite: He/she should recognize Israel as a Jewish and Democratic State.

Notes:

“Recognize Israel as a Jewish State” means that the immigration policy of Israel will be biased in favor of receiving Diasporic Jews, those who by conscience or necessity (antisemitic distress or persecution) want to make Israel their home.

“Recognize Israel as a Democratic State” means that all the permanent residents within the Israeli borders (present or future borders) will be entitled to become Israeli citizens, with full civil rights and the right to vote to the Israeli parliament.