Calls Grow for Direct Prime Ministerial Elections and Lower Threshold to Restore Israeli Democracy

A recent opinion piece critiques Israel's electoral system, arguing it fails to reflect the true will of the public due to a high electoral threshold and tactical voting. The author suggests that these factors prevent voters' genuine preferences from being fully expressed in the Knesset. The proposed solution includes implementing direct elections for the prime minister and lowering the electoral threshold to better capture voter intent.

The article references the political climate since the judicial reform announcement by Minister Yariv Levin three years ago, which sparked accusations from the left that Israel is becoming a dictatorship. The author counters that true democracy means majority rule with minority rights respected, and claims that the radical left, unelected yet influential in state institutions, effectively constitutes a dictatorship.

Highlighting past political events, the author notes the removal of Rabbi Meir Kahane, who was not racist but fought enemies, contrasting him with figures like Yair Golan, who is accused of racism. The piece stresses that without direct leadership elections, parties like Likud gain votes tactically to block the left, even if voters prefer a more dominant right-wing party.

The high electoral threshold of four mandates is criticized for excluding new political forces and discouraging votes for strong parties fearing they might not pass the threshold. The author calls for a serious protest movement against those who suppress the public's true will for power and control. Right-wing parties are urged to take responsibility for not pushing harder to change this undemocratic threshold.

While affirming that Israel's Jewish identity should remain central in elections, the article insists that a democratic regime is essential for coexistence among different societal groups.