"The elections to the Knesset shall take place on the third Tuesday of the month of Heshvan in the year in which the term of the outgoing Knesset ended, but should the preceding year be a leap year, the elections shall take place on the first Tuesday of that month," the Basic Law: the Knesset says.
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Israel is holding its fifth parliamentary election in under four years, and it happens to coincide with the original date set by the legislature for a vote, that is before the country was plunged into the ongoing political crisis.
This symbolic timing is a sign of what most Israelis seek: a return to normal, as 99% of those who arrive at the polling stations only want to return in another four years, as prescribed.
Until then, they expect the elected officials to stop the madness: to seize the infighting, slandering, and extremism and renounce the rhetoric that has endangered the public for too long. And instead, take action to return to a politics that focuses on what matters, show respect even at a time of disagreement, and exhibit responsibility and leadership precisely when it's the hardest. And above all, what is most expected of our leaders starting the day after the election is to do their utmost to end the series of incessant elections.
Sometimes it seems that the public enjoys the race so much that it fails to pay attention to the price it pays – in the form of terror attacks, loss of sovereignty, weakening of the government, failure of the police, the danger of Arab nationalist, the cost of living, housing prices, population density, heavy traffic, congested airport, and nepotism. And we haven't even got to the major challenges yet, such as Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and Palestinians.
Only an effective government can deal with this backlog of problems. But with elections being held every six months, no government is effective. The chaos is taking over, and it must be stopped.
A stable national government, and preferably a united government, will be able to tackle the above mentioned challenges. Wouldn't it be great if one side garnered enough votes to establish a coalition? Because if neither bloc garners the 61 necessary seats, responsible politicians on both sides will need to take on the task of establishing a national and stable government at the expense of making waves within their factions. But the goal is worth it.
Ending the crisis is the most important thing. There is no logic to keep holding elections that bring no change. There is no point in moving on to a sixth or seventh round. It will bring nothing new.
As such, we need brave political players who will break the cycle. Instead of being considered deserters, they will be viewed as heroes who stood up in a time of need, provided they maintain their ideological path.
One person is already mentally ready to bear this burden: President Isaac Herzog, the responsible adult of Israeli politics. At least, he wants to follow in the footsteps of his father, and in case of indecision bring unity to the government, which is praiseworthy.
Even after three and a half years of crisis and five election rounds, let us remember that politics is a means to an end, not an end unto itself. The race, which the public and the media pay great attention to, is interesting, but the least important.
Perhaps these expectations are naive. But if even just half of them come true, it would suffice.
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