If you have been trying to keep up with Israel’s election results for the last few days, you are probably wondering when in the world we will know for certain the identity of Israel’s next Prime Minister. Deadlocks are one thing but a complicated coalition-building system is another. Though the elections happened on the 17th, we are still likely days away from knowing the official winner of the premiership.
For Americans used to fixed term elections and two major political parties, Israel’s parliamentary system is bewildering. It is hard enough to understand Israel’s election cycle, but it is almost impossible to keep track of the proliferation of small parties and the rearranging of partnerships, coalitions, and now mini-coalitions.
If you are a pro-Israel Christian, attentive to the news coming out of Israel, but still having a hard time wrapping your heads around this Groundhog Day election, let me assure you, there is no shame in the head scratching. It just means you are paying close attention. I will try and give the reader’s digest condensed version of how Israel got to the point that she has had two elections in five months with what seems like the same results each time.
