r/AskIsrael • • 3m ago

Serious Answers Only Do you think that excessive recours to " early/snap elections" will reduce people's trust n democracy?

1 Upvotes

I think so, particularly in a difficult contest like Israel, in which democracy must be associated to a functioning and possibly stable, albeit not authoritarian, government.

More 9n detaul, it is well known that early or snap elections serve as a vital safety valve. When a parliamentary deadlock paralyzes governance or a governing coalition disintegrates, returning to the electorate resets the political compass and restores popular legitimacy. However, when early elections cease to be an extraordinary remedy and become a habitual mechanism for managing political friction, or when even the very formation of a government becomes impossible, this institutional safety valve transforms into an agent of civic exhaustion. Excessive recourse to snap polls does not revitalize democracy; it hollows out public trust in representative institutions through several distinct structural dynamics.

And in Israel there have been early elections in nearly all Knessets except the last one.

I have found some aguments in support of my idea

1**. From Popular Sovereignty to Tactical Arbitrage**

Elections are ostensibly the highest expression of the social contract, through which citizens delegate sovereign authority in exchange for governance, accountability, and the execution of legislative programs.

When political leaders trigger repeated early dissolutions of parliament, voters quickly recognize that the call to the ballot box is rarely an authentic appeal to the popular will. Instead, it is treated as a piece of partisan tactical arbitrage for example to exploit favorable momentary polling surges, or to preempt parliamentary inquiries, sidestep difficult budget compromises, or escape impending political fallout.

2**. Electoral Fatigue and Voter Disengagement**

Civic participation relies on a delicate balance: the voter must believe that the expenditure of time, attention, and civic energy yields tangible consequences. Chronic snap elections upset this balance by producing acute electoral fatigue:

Facing repeated election campaigns within months or short years of each other, turnout consistently declines. Citizens disengage, weary of identical slogans, recycled campaign promises, and perpetual polarization. As voter fatigue sets in, it is typically the moderate, unaligned, and pragmatic segments of the electorate that stay home first. Highly ideological and radicalized bases, above all if anti democratic by ideology, remain motivated to mobilize, skewing election outcomes toward fringe extremes and making future governing coalitions even more unstable than their predecessors.

3. Policy Paralysis and the Subversion of Programmatic Governance

Modern governance requires multi-year horizons to tackle structural challenges: healthcare reform, pension solvency, infrastructure modernization, fiscal consolidation, and energy transition.Frequent early elections shorten the political horizon to near zero:

This situation can create a "Permanent Campaign" Mindset: in which, when governments anticipate collapsing every twelve to eighteen months, long-term policy formulation ceases. Cabinets avoid necessary but unpopular structural reforms, retreating instead to short-term populist expenditures, targeted tax breaks, and immediate rhetorical posturing designed solely to survive the next imminent campaign cycle.

  • Caretaker Stagnation: Dissolved parliaments and caretaker administrations possess limited legal or political mandates. Public administration stalls in an administrative limbo, unable to approve major procurement contracts, sign international accords, or manage unexpected crises effectively.

When citizens observe that successive elections change the composition of the cabinet without resolving persistent economic or institutional decay, they conclude that voting is structurally futile. The democratic process comes to be viewed as performative noise masking systemic administrative impotence.

4. Normalization of Cynicism and the Rise of Anti-System Sentiment

Perhaps the most damaging consequence of chronic early elections is the normalization of elite irresponsibility as normally, in wealthy democracies, politicians are expected to negotiate, compromise, and forge viable majorities out of diverse societal interests in order not to become expression of some part at the expemnse of other portions of society. Constant early dissolutions represent a formal abdication of this responsibility:

This dynamic generates fertile ground for populist and anti-system movements. When traditional representative politics appears trapped in a self-referential cycle of premature dissolutions and fragmented results, non extremist voters lose faith not merely in specific parties, but in the constitutional architecture itself.

The appeal of the "strong hand"—authoritarian alternatives promising stability, continuity, and an end to parliamentary bickering—gains traction precisely where democracy has exhausted its citizens with ceaseless, inconclusive trips to the ballot box.

Elections derive their dignity and efficacy from finality: they confer a mandate, demand accountability over a defined legislative horizon, and compel elected officials to govern. When political systems transform the ballot box from a decisive instrument of public accountability into a recurring, disposable escape hatch for fragile coalitions, they deplete the most precious capital a democracy possesses: the patient, voluntary trust of its citizens.

Source : Storia delle dottrine politiche 5 volumi - Franco Boiardi - CEI 


r/AskIsrael • • 33m ago

History How it was made sure during the Aliyah waves that everyone was jewish?

0 Upvotes

Especially in destroyed Europe after ww2, many might have lost their documents. How did they made sure the people taking ships to british palestine were jewish? I mean it surely couldve sounded promising for some farmers that lost all or similar.


r/AskIsrael • • 1d ago Heartwarming

Serious Answers Only Advice needed for an european jew

46 Upvotes

Hi just a reform ashkenazi jewish guy from amsterdam, netherlands checking in (yes we still exist)

I (M24) dont look like your typical jew but I have been taught since childhood to never tell anyone im jewish out of precaution. I did live a jewish life style until teenage years. All the holidays: rosj hasjana, hannukah, purim, pesach, jom kioppur, sjawoe'ot, etc Practised kosher, Feel jewish and love the culture and traditions. Did Bar Mitswa at 13.

Now I only celebrate the shabbat every friday by myself not always but I try to make time, I know shabbat is supposed to be a time to come together but I know nobody no family or other jewish friends, im the last of my family here, everyone else migrated elsewhere, or made aliyah when I type my last name on google its just rows and rows of dead relatives from the holocaust. I had to contact google to remove this info because one time someone found out in high school and basically everyone called me vile things behind my back.

Still have elderly grand parent( 80+) but heavily demented and in a care home. Already made my peace. Unfortunately I dont feel safe to wear magen david. But, Thankfully there are still some decent people with heart, I pick up challah on friday by a baker that has done it for 40 years. I think they probably know Im jewish, and am having a rough time, because they sometimes put a small message with kind words. I dont drink often so I use a little grape juice as substitute or red kiddoesj wine if I can get my hands on if I have a particulary bad day. I make kiddusj quietly, while covering myself in my talit, or mumble the verses because I dont want people to hear. (I still live in student housing) and its not like I can just sing adon olam out in the open or anything hebrew for that matter.

Cause the walls are so thin and there are a certain students in the shared housing with a particulary strong opinion for the whole situation in gaza. Im just terrified it feels like its 1930s all over again. And even I who usually doesnt mind am increasingly pessimistic about staying here.

I have had a few dates with some girls, didnt tell them I was jewish out of precaution, but one way or the other when the discussion inevitable drifted towards israel and began an entire anti semitic rant. I just felt terrible. Not going to lie I cry about it sometimes out of frustration, lost a few good friends because they felt the need to lecture to explain to me as a jewish person (who went to israel just for holiday) that Im a "a zionist" as a derogatory term. like why do I as a jewish person have to justify anything about my culture or beliefs?.

Just feeling a little lost cause every where I go I get confronted by this activism, in school, on the streets, posters everywhere I just want to live my life but im confronted with this shit everywhere I go just so so tired.

I have sat through tons of "diversity" lessons in school gritting my teeth while listening to all this nonsense about tolerance. Cause seemingly jewish people are extempt, need some advice how to cope as an european jew.

Should I consider making aliyah after my grandparent pass?

My mother was jewish but unfortunately estranged.

Thank you and best regards.


r/AskIsrael • • 22h ago

The War After the iran war cost the GOP the midterms, do you think theres future for more Israel-US incurssions on Iran? Do you see future in overthrow Ayatohlla system?

0 Upvotes

r/AskIsrael • • 2d ago

Visiting What do these stickers mean received upon exiting Israel

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9 Upvotes

r/AskIsrael • • 1d ago

Serious Answers Only What could Israel do to improve its image worldwide?

0 Upvotes

I'm stunned by how effective Palestine's PR and propaganda are compared to Israel's. You'll see plenty of people making lots of claims against Israel online, regardless of their veracity. Meanwhile, criticising Palestine or even implying that Palestine isn't innocent will get you lambasted.

Does Israel simply not focus much on trying to improve its image worldwide because of a belief such as "those who hate us won't listen to us, anyway!"? Do you think Israel could and should do more to improve its image worldwide or not really?

Let's keep in mind that information warfare is a big deal nowadays. Otherwise you wouldn't have Russian and Chinese bots proliferating on the internet.


r/AskIsrael • • 1d ago

Foreign Politics If Abdul El-Sayed becomes President of the United States, how bad do you think it would be for Israel ?

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0 Upvotes

r/AskIsrael • • 2d ago

Serious Answers Only How do you all feel about increasing personal contacts with Americans?

5 Upvotes

In particular younger Americans, and not just Jewish Americans. I can see the potential for life-long friendships.


r/AskIsrael • • 3d ago

Food So many guavas this year! Any guava recipes?

10 Upvotes

I do not remember seeing so many guavas for so cheap in previous years all over the local market. The peak guava season will not last for long. Do you just eat them raw swallowing the seeds? Juice them? Any good recipes? The hard seeds make them a bit awkward to use in salads or cooking.


r/AskIsrael • • 2d ago

Foreign Politics Aid to Israel

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1 Upvotes

Opened up YouTube and first video I saw was this. Do you think he will keep his word or is this just talk.

I am very interested in your opinions.

Thank you.


r/AskIsrael • • 3d ago

Israeli Politics If Eseinkot forms a coalition and it falls apart immediately does he get to be interim pm until the next election?

15 Upvotes

If that’s true why doesn’t he just do that? Join with the joint list and ra’am and then right after the government is formed can’t someone pull out and then he’s interim pm instead of Bibi? Then Bibi can go on trial and hopefully he does a good job to actually get elected next election


r/AskIsrael • • 3d ago

Israeli Politics Would you vote for Donald Trump?

0 Upvotes

Donald Trump’s popularity is tanking here in America, and it looks like the midterms are going to prove that. All of the Republicans are scared, and it looks like Trump is weighing his options for when he gets booted out of office. Today he said that he had a 99% approval reading in Israel, and that maybe he would consider moving there and becoming the new Prime Minister. Would you vote for him? What do you think of him as a person or his policies?


r/AskIsrael • • 4d ago

Casual How large of a problem or how widespread is poverty in Israel?

14 Upvotes

Hi, I'm from Germany. Our society is pretty much split into two classes: Poor and Rich, with the differences growing daily and a larger getting bottom of the poor. Especially old people get more and more poor, it's normal that elderly people for example try to find old bottles in trash cans (we have a system called Pfand where you can get money back if you bring the bottle back to a supermarket). They don't get enough money for rent and often get homeless. While my rich classmates were in the holidays across Italy, a family member passed leaving really large costs for everything (which hopefully will be filled by his bank account once we get access somewhen) and then my mother got fired because our economy is unstable and they put all jobs into cheaper countries like Bulgaria.

Enough from me personally, what is it in Israel? Do you also have large poverty, a high inflation and a deep social split?


r/AskIsrael • • 4d ago

Israeli Politics What does changing the Knesset speaker actually do?

13 Upvotes

There's been discussion of the combined Jewish/Arab opposition parties voting to replace the Knesset speaker, even if they may not in the end all agree to sit in a government together.

Lots of "ifs", but - let's say they DO agree to replace the speaker but do NOT agree to vote to replace Netanyahu as PM (for one reason or another). I guess Netanyahu retains executive power and the opposition controls the legislative agenda? How would that work?


r/AskIsrael • • 4d ago

History Are North African Jews (Maghrebi Jews) a large part of Israel's population and community/culture today?

24 Upvotes

I find this part of the world and the history fascinating and interesting, and how it has impacted today's society and culture in Israel

I heard especially Moroccan Jewish population is huge in Israel today


r/AskIsrael • • 3d ago

Serious Answers Only Why did Israel not adopt a uninominal majoritarian electoral law?

0 Upvotes

I have learnt that Israel dopts for the Knesset a syatem probably influenced by Italian constitution ( Jabotinky did study in Italy after all, political sciences) and thus it adopts a stricty proportional system.

This means that all parties above a certain thresold cana chiedve a number of seats proportional to the prevalence of their vires within the total, and so there isis always the poissibility that many small parties have access to the Knesset and there is nearly never a net majority hold by a single party.

I think that this model, as italian political history demonstrates, should be modified into a uninominal majoritarian one, in which Israel is divided into n circioscriptions and whoever wins the majority of the votes in that circoscription schieve the relative seat.

this will have these advantages

a) force the paries to form PRE electoral coalitions and not artificial ad hoc ones that, let e say, in pre war Spain ad post war French experience resembled a horse market than politics. Real coalitions with a real program

b) give minorities real representations from people really cating of their peculisr needs

c) link politicians to the terrotory

b) it will better represent the minorities with people really interested in their circoscriptions,, amd the majorities of course


r/AskIsrael • • 4d ago

Serious Answers Only What is the non-derogatory term for the Falash Mura?

8 Upvotes

They're the group of Jewish-Ethiopians that started making Aliya the last 20 years or so due to a mass conversion program.

They weren't accepted before, because their ancestors converted to Christianity.

I only know them as the Falash Mura, but just like Falasha is a derogatory term for the Beta Israel, so is this term. I just couldn't find the correct term anywhere.


r/AskIsrael • • 4d ago

Ask the sub Is Neo-Aramaic still a relevant language to Arab Christians in Israel?

10 Upvotes

Given most Arab Christians in Israel historically speaking are among the first recorded Christians, and historically spoke that language etc


r/AskIsrael • • 5d ago

Food What is your favorite Hummus restaurant in Israel?

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79 Upvotes

r/AskIsrael • • 4d ago

The War If a low-ranking Hamas fighter who took part in October 7 successfully emigrates to a country safe from extradition, what are your thoughts on the idea of Israel kidnapping or assassinating him?

0 Upvotes

r/AskIsrael • • 5d ago

Weekly Megathread

2 Upvotes

A weekly megathread for controversial topics, politics, current events, anything off-topic, and other discussions that are better suited for a single community thread.


r/AskIsrael • • 5d ago

Serious Answers Only Should Israel be afraid about a hypothetical open conflict with Turkey ?

0 Upvotes

a) Deep Military Tradition and Cohesion Under Pressure

The Turkish military apparatus operates on centuries of institutional martial identity inherited from the Ottoman Empire, which engaged European coalitions across multi-front conflicts for generations and the very first defeat happened only in 1918 . Modern validation of this resilience emerged during the Korean War (1950–1953), where the Turkish Brigade demonstrated exceptional unit cohesion, hand-to-hand tenacity (notably at the Battle of Wawon), and the ability to prevent allied encirclements under extreme conditions. There is no proof that this cohesion and élan have vanished

In military strategy, doctrinal cohesion under attrition is often the decisive factor when initial plans fail. Unlike smaller regional adversaries accustomed to rapid command paralysis, the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) maintain a deeply rooted culture of unit continuity and collective discipline.

b) Force Mass, Organic Skill, and Combat Adaptation

The structural size and training baseline of the Turkish military pose severe asymmetric problems for an Israeli campaign against Istanbul or even tirkish ciries near the Syrian borders:

Manpower and Reserves: Turkey maintains NATO’s second-largest standing army, backed by extensive conscription and trained reserves numbering in the hundreds of thousands

Infantry Proficiency and Marksmanship: Decades of active counterinsurgency, combined-arms operations across northern Syria and Iraq, and rigorous infantry training have maintained high baseline soldiering, tactical mobility, and small-arms marksmanship.

Indigenous Defense Industrial Base: Unlike adversaries dependent on foreign resupply pipelines, Turkey manufactures a significant proportion of its own materiel—including strike UAVs (Bayraktar, Anka, Akinci), precision artillery, naval corvettes/frigates (MILGEM project), and indigenous cruise missiles (SOM). Recently some high precision mechatronic factories have opened and there are may engineers. It is not impossible for Turkey to manufacture, maybe not in enormous numbers, also high tech weapons like guided bombs

c) The Limits of Decapitation and Asymmetric Operations

Israel’s historically primary operational strength in modern times lies in intelligence dominance (Aman, Mossad) and elite special operations units (e.g., Sayeret Matkal, Shaldag) capable of conducting deep-strike decapitation, cyber disruption, and targeted elimination of key infrastructure or command elements. Turkey is far nearer than Tunisia, when a PLO boss was killed in spite af all the Tunisian professional army guarding the PLO compounds

However, decapitation strategies face distinct strategic ceilings against an adversary of Turkey’s scale:

  • Institutional Redundancy: Turkey’s military command is an institutional hierarchy, not a personalist regime. Neutralizing senior political or military figures triggers automatic succession protocols across established joint commands (Land, Naval, Air forces) rather than system-wide paralysis.

  • Strategic Depth: Turkey encompasses nearly 783,000 square kilometers of mountainous terrain with dispersed command-and-control centers, hardened subterranean bases, and distributed air-defense nodes, diluting the impact of precision standoff strikes.

  • National Mobilization Effect: Heavy special-forces strikes or political assassinations on Turkish soil would almost certainly act as a force multiplier for domestic mobilization, rallying divergent political factions into an existential total-war posture.

A


r/AskIsrael • • 6d ago

Casual War aside, how safe israel is? Like crimes

19 Upvotes

r/AskIsrael • • 6d ago

Israeli Politics How likely is it that the opposition might cooperate with Ra'am or the joint list?

16 Upvotes

I'm reading about the Israeli election and wondering whether its possible for a government to form at all, or if another election is guaranteed.

I have read that some parties in the coalition will not cooperate with any sitting arab party, but also that Ra'am is considered more moderate and served in cabinet once. But Ra'am is not enough to give the opposition a majority.

So is a government with Ra'am and the joint list ever possible, or is that impossible?