Key Issues in the Israeli Elections: Corruption, Security, and Marijuana

The Israeli parliamentary elections will be held on Tuesday, April 8. In this context, Agence France-Presse has categorized and explained some of the key issues in the Israeli election campaign. Accusations against Benjamin Netanyahu in this election, in addition to important issues such as peace, war, and the country's economy, also involve the legitimacy of the current Prime Minister of Israel, against whom the Attorney General has filed charges in several cases that could ultimately lead to a prison sentence. Mr. Netanyahu claims to be a victim of 'malicious prosecution' and says he will prove his innocence in court. Although many of his supporters back this veteran Prime Minister, his Likud party is nearly neck-and-neck in polls with its main rival, the 'Blue and White' coalition led by former military chief Benny Gantz and former economy minister Yair Lapid. Who is right? In a country that has gone through several wars, security has always been a very important issue, and the debate over who is right on the right largely depends on security issues. Mr. Netanyahu has described the Blue and White coalition as 'weak leftists,' although many of their political programs are similar. In contrast, the Blue and White coalition, which can be described as the centrist force in Israeli politics, emphasizes the security and defense capabilities of its leaders, including three former military chiefs. For example, Benny Gantz has showcased the number of Palestinian fighters killed during Israel's 2014 attack on Gaza and the targeted locations in a campaign video. He was the military chief during those attacks. Benjamin Netanyahu has frequently promoted recent airstrikes against Iranian forces and Hezbollah in Syria. Three days before the elections, Mr. Netanyahu stated that if he wins, he will annex Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank to Israel. If this annexation occurs on a large scale, it would be a nail in the coffin for the two-state solution as a resolution to the Middle East crisis. Benny Gantz described Mr. Netanyahu's promise as an 'irresponsible' election stunt, saying that Netanyahu has been Prime Minister for 13 years and could have made such a decision if he wanted to. Gantz also stated that he opposes unilateral action and supports an internationally backed peace plan that includes maintaining a significant portion of the Jewish settlements in the West Bank and security control over all these territories. Critics of Mr. Netanyahu say he employs populist and divisive policies that result in demonizing Arabs and other minorities living in Israel. He has repeatedly claimed that Benny Gantz intends to ally with Arab-Israeli political parties. He has often emphasized that the main issue in this year's voting is the choice between 'Bibi' and 'Tibi.' 'Bibi' is his nickname, and 'Tibi' refers to Ahmad Tibi, an Arab-Israeli politician and a staunch opponent of Zionism. Arab-Israelis make up about 17.5% of the country's population. Benny Gantz says he does not intend to ally with Arab parties. He also claims he can heal the wounds that Benjamin Netanyahu's policies have inflicted on Israeli society. The results of a recent poll conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute show that the main criterion for 25% of the population is socio-economic policies. During Benjamin Netanyahu's premiership, Israel's economy has grown, but the cost of living is high and is a concern for many people. Housing costs are particularly significant. Mr. Netanyahu's policy has been to reduce regulations governing economic activities and to adopt neoliberal management of the economy. The Likud party states that its economic policy will continue to be 'a free-market economy with social considerations, tax reductions, and growth in the private sector.' The Blue and White coalition led by Benny Gantz has announced that it will establish a high authority to control the cost of living, encourage competition in the economic arena, and improve housing supply and public transportation. Moshe Feiglin, a far-right candidate, has introduced legalizing marijuana consumption as one of his main programs, making recreational use of this substance unexpectedly one of the issues in the Israeli election campaign. This has attracted a diverse mix of voters to Moshe Feiglin, and other candidates, including Benjamin Netanyahu, have also discussed the possibility of legalizing marijuana.