Israeli Elections
Elections for the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, were held on April 9. The political party of incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Likud, won 26.45% of the vote for 36 seats. Likud increased their number of seats by 6. The main opposition party, an alliance called Blue and White, won 35 seats and 26.12% of the vote. Smaller parties are poised to join Likud in a coalition government.
Instructors, click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.
Download the PowerPoint Lecture Spark for Elections in Israel
Links
“Explainer: Israeli election – with the final count in, who won and who lost?”
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-election-parties-explainer/explainer-israeli-election-with-the-final-count-in-who-won-and-who-lost-idUSKCN1RO1IC
“Netanyahu set for fifth term as Israel’s leader as rival concedes defeat”
https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/10/middleeast/israel-election-results-benjamin-netanyahu-benny-gantz-intl/index.html
“Israel election: Netanyahu set for record fifth term”
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47876539
“Benjamin Netanyahu won Israel’s election. Here’s what comes next.”
https://www.vox.com/world/2019/4/10/18302233/israel-election-results-benjamin-netanyahu-2019
“Israel election: Vote count almost finished; Bennett’s party teetering on edge of threshold”
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/israel-election-2019-right-wing-bloc-in-clear-lead-as-netanyahu-and-gantz-tie-1.7107636
“Israel election: Netanyahu headed for win in close race”
https://www.npr.org/2019/04/10/711693235/israels-parliamentary-election-will-decide-netanyahus-political-future
“Analysis: Does Netanyahu’s win maintain status quo or push Israel further right?”
https://www.npr.org/2019/04/12/711987101/analysis-does-netanyahus-win-maintain-status-quo-or-push-israel-further-right
“The Trump-Netanyahu relationship is sowing disaster for both countries”
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/11/the-trump-netanyahu-relationship-is-sowing-disaster-for-both-countries
“Netanyahu’s re-election leaves Palestinians facing a bleak future”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/04/netanyahu-election-leaves-palestinians-facing-bleak-future-190411114850551.html
“Benjamin Netanyahu’s re-election reflects the ever-shriveling force of Israel’s left”
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/editorials/israel-election-netanyahu-lukid-party-benny-gantz-a8863631.html
“The Irish Times’ view on the Israeli elections: A dangerous move”
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorial/the-irish-times-view-on-the-israeli-elections-a-dangerous-move-1.3853647
Assessment
- Writing: What are some of the likely policy results of the reelection of Benjamin Netanyahu?
- Debate: Netanyahu’s victory is likely to result in fewer peace overtures to other nations in the Middle East.
- Poll: Do you think a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue is still realistic?
- Short Answer: Why was Likud returned to power in Israel?
Current events quiz:
1) What party does Benjamin Netanyahu belong to?
a. Likud
b. Blue and White
c. Meretz
d. Yisrael Beiteinu
2) Who did Netanyahu run against in the recent election?
a. Naftali Bennett
b. Yair Lapid
c. Benny Gantz
d. Avigdor Lieberman
3) What is the Knesset?
a. The legislative branch of the Israeli government
b. Israel’s judiciary board
c. The capitol building in Israel
d. An Israeli political party
4) President Donald Trump said that Netanyahu’s reelection is good for peace. (T/F)
5) Netanyahu is also a member of the Knesset. (T/F)
6) The forthcoming term will be Netanyahu’s second term as prime minister. (T/F)
Answers:
1) A
2) C
3) A
4) T
5) T
6) F
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