Israeli Political Pendulum Needs Systemic Change, Not Just Election Wins

The deep internal divisions in Israeli society, termed the 'Israeli pendulum,' will persist regardless of election outcomes, according to Alex Kushnir, CEO of the Strategic Institute for Israel's Future. He argues that the current political system incentivizes conflict over cooperation, leading to a cycle where each new government reverses the policies of its predecessor. This constant flux, driven by a desire to impose one group's worldview on another, undermines long-term planning and public trust, with citizens bearing the brunt of the instability.

Kushnir contends that neither outright electoral victory nor simple compromise can resolve this fundamental issue. Winning elections merely shifts control temporarily, failing to reconcile differing core values, while compromise is insufficient when fundamental identities are at stake. He proposes a shift from trying to achieve consensus on values to creating a system where diverse groups can live according to their principles without imposing them on others or infringing on freedoms.

To achieve this, Kushnir advocates for a bottom-up reform process, emphasizing that politicians alone cannot enact such change. He suggests establishing a council of experts, chosen by all Knesset factions, to analyze existing problems and propose solutions based on global experience. Alongside this, a randomly selected citizens' assembly, representative of Israeli society, would study issues, provide feedback, and evaluate recommendations. These proposals would then undergo broad public discussion and revision before a final decision by the public in a national referendum.

This process, Kushnir explains, aims to create a new system that protects core values without coercion, encourages economic responsibility and burden-sharing, and ensures a professional, effective, and long-term oriented government. He likens Israel's current situation to a train off its tracks, where changing the driver (the ruling party) is insufficient. Instead, the passengers (the public) must collectively work to put the train back on a corrected track, defining the rules by which the country operates. Kushnir believes Israel is at this pivotal moment, urging a collective effort to change the system and build cohesion, not through erasing differences, but through stable rules that allow for governing a divided nation.