Participation, Abstention and Boycott: Arab Voter Turnout in Israeli Elections
by Ms. Karin Tamar Schafferman
While the question used to be "who will the Arab citizens of Israel vote for — a Zionist party or an Arab party," the question today is whether or not they will vote at all. The participation of the Arab citizens of Israel in Knesset elections has been on a constant decline since the 1950s.
Lieberman: An Alternative to Israel's "Classic Right"?
by Mr. Shmulik Nili
Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beiteinu Party received 15 seats in the 18th Knesset. Does Lieberman exclusively represent Israel's Russian sector, or has he succeeded in introducing an alternative to Israel's "Classic Right"?
The People Have Spoken
by Ms. Yael Hadar
The 2009 Israeli general election has changed Israel's parliamentary landscape. IDI explores the similarities and differences between the incoming and outgoing Knesset.
Women in the 18th Knesset
by Dr. Ofer Kenig
The results of the recent elections to the 18th Knesset show a rising number of women representatives in the Israeli parliament.
Standard Procedure in Israel: The President Confers with Party Representatives
by Dr. Dana Blander
The aftermath of the 2009 Israeli general election raises questions about the health of Israel's electoral system.
Online Campaigns in the 2009 Election
by Mr. Nir Atmor
In recent years, increasing numbers of politicians have been relying on the Internet for fundraising, recruiting supporters, and publicizing their positions and platforms. IDI researcher, Nir Atmor, discusses the role of online campaigning in the 2009 elections.
Reforms Vital to Israeli Political Stability
by Dr. Arye Carmon, IDI President
In an op-ed, Dr. Carmon discusses electoral reform and other political challenges in anticipation of the coming national election. He proposes several policy changes that could help stabilize Israel's democratic regime.
Elections in the Shadow of War
by Dr. Dana Blander
Dr. Blander discusses the issue of wartime elections from an historical-legal perspective. Israeli historical precedents and the similar experiences of other democracies help to contextualize the possible scenarios that lay ahead in light of the military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
Frequent Elections and Political Instability
by Dr. Ofer Kenig
Israeli law calls for general elections every four years. However, three out of the past four governments have not survived a full term in office. Dr. Kenig explores the implications of frequent elections on the stability of Israeli democracy.
Intra-Party Politics
an interview with Dr. Gideon Rahat
Party primaries are a vital component of the electoral system, yet they receive little attention from the media and the voting public. In an exclusive interview with IDI, Dr. Gideon Rahat of Hebrew University of Jerusalem discusses the candidate selection process within Israel’s political parties and explores the pros and cons of local and international models.