Well, the elections in Israel are over. Sort of. The winner did not win, and the loser did not lose. Netanyahu’s Likud party won 27 seats. His coalition, consisting of United Torah Judaism, Otzma Yehudit, Shas, and Religious Zionism, totaled 53 seats. Not enough to form a majority of 61.
Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party won 21 seats. His coalition of B’Yachad, the Democrats, and Yisrael Beitenu adds up to 48 seats. Also not nearly enough to gain a majority.
So it’s back to the drawing board. The options are forming a unity government, horse-trading for additional seats, or holding new elections all over again. Some say the new elections should feature a direct vote for prime minister, not party affiliation. Perhaps that would clear up some of the confusion and stalemate.
The big bombshell of election evening was the number of seats gained by the Arab parties – 19 to be exact. That stunning result upset the whole applecart of Israeli elections. The Arabs have now become a force to be reckoned with. It is very enticing for parties to consider joining with the Arab bloc.
It is not just in the US, France, Britain, and Spain that Muslims have become a dominant force. It is now in Israel, too. Muslims make their presence felt, usually in a hostile manner. Witness all the Muslim-inspired attacks on Israel and Jews, both in the streets and on college campuses. No government wants to alienate the large group of Muslims in its midst. Western liberal societies have held an open door for Muslim immigrants, and in many cases, it is now coming back to haunt them. How many clerics have you seen who call for the takeover of society by the forces of Islam?
Abdul El-Sayed said he cannot support the death of Iran’s Khamenei because it will cause a lot of anguish to his constituents in Dearborn. I guess their allegiances are not with the United States.
And now, Muslims have arrived with powerful numbers in Israel. Who knows what their influence will be? Nothing to dismiss.
Yet, incredibly, there was a march of hundreds of Israelis in Tel Aviv calling for a government to be formed with the Arab parties. One sign read, “Equality for All from the River to the Sea.” Imagine using the same line that is used by Muslims to call for the elimination of Israel. Have they not learned a thing from October 7?
Apparently not.
Rabbi Yoel Schonfeld is the Rabbi Emeritus of the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, President of the Coalition for Jewish Values, former President of the Vaad Harabonim of Queens, and the Rabbinic Consultant for the Queens Jewish Link.
