Israel's Third Bloc Seeks Balanced Government With Shared Leadership Instead of Single PM
A new political initiative called 'The Bloc of Israel' aims to establish a balanced government where ministers share responsibility equally and are not subordinate to the prime minister. Its first challenge is to form a party based on collective leadership rather than a single leader. This approach contrasts with recent election cycles focused on the rivalry between political blocs and the question of who will be prime minister, often polarizing voters between Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz or Gadi Eisenkot.
Despite ongoing political tensions and the risk of repeated elections or governments representing only half the public, there is growing support, including from some Likud supporters and members of the Change Government and Religious Zionism, for this third bloc concept. Leaders like Yuli Edelstein and Dedi Simchi have proposed not deciding the prime minister in advance but requiring whoever receives the mandate from the president to offer a fair arrangement to the opposing bloc.
Critics question whether this bloc would align with a Netanyahu government reliant on far-right figures or an Eisenkot government dependent on left-wing partners. The article argues the real issue is not just who leads but the government's composition and key ministers, since Israel's parliamentary system vests policy power in the cabinet, not the prime minister alone. A government including Netanyahu, Eisenkot, and Naftali Bennett as senior ministers could resemble one led by Eisenkot with Netanyahu and Yariv Levin as ministers, rather than narrow coalitions dependent on fringe factions.
The success of the third bloc depends on shifting focus from "who is prime minister" to "who are the ministers." To embody shared responsibility, the bloc must first practice collective leadership internally. Historically, Israeli leaders like Ben-Gurion, Rabin, and Sharon led parties without personalizing the ballot or dominating policy decisions alone. The prime minister was seen as first among equals. However, recent decades have seen parties centered around a single leader.
Therefore, a party uniting Change Government members, former Likud politicians, Religious Zionism, and new political forces should present a leadership hive rather than a single head. Internal balances between factions can be predetermined, and collective leadership could be guided by an experienced public figure not running for office. If successful, this bloc could offer a balanced government with shared ministerial responsibility and restore the prime minister to a role as chief minister, first among equals.
