A Proposed Solution to Israel's Governmental Ills
A Proposed Solution to Israel's Governmental Ills

MK Shaul Mofaz has proposed electoral reform involving, inter alia, raising the electoral threshold currently 2%. Had the threshold in the 10 February 2009 election been 3%,  three of the 12 current parties in the Knesset would have been elminated: Meretz, Jewish Home, Meimad (Green). Had the threshold been 4%, National Union and Hadash would have been eliminated.   

One way small parties may circumvent an “exclusionary” threshhold is for two or more to form a coalition or “joint list.” However, in some countries, joint lists may be required to reach a higher threshold level.

Leaving this contingency aside, suppose Israel had a 5% threshold. After one or two elections, a 5% threshold would probably produce a Knesset with no more than five parties or party coalitions.  Since these coalitions would have to campaign on a common platform, this would tend to enlarge their political horizons and minimize extremist positions. With no more than five parties in the Knesset—which would improve its deliberations—the Cabinet would consist of two or three parties. This would facilitate more coherent and resolute national policies and thus contribute to national unity and national security.

Now, if the Knesset rejects a 5% threshold on grounds that it would eliminate small parties, one may argue that: (1) democracy is not well-served by excessive pluralism; (2) the entire nation, including small parties, suffers as a consequence of fragmented Government; (3) small parties may better accomplish their objectives by working within larger parties.

However, if this argument fails to convince opponents of a 5% threshold, I offer an alternative method of minimizing the harmful effects of fragmented, coalition cabinet government. 

Let us suppose a majority of the Knesset will support nothing higher than a 3% threshold.  This threshold would still fragment the cabinet. However, we all know that the Knesset, early on, required a party to have six seats to be represented on the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, and we know the reason for this “threshold.”  With equal reason the Knesset could require a party to have a minimum number of seats to be represented in the Cabinet!  

This “cabinet” threshold would not only reduce the shabbiness that characterizes the formation of coalition cabinet governments; it would also conduce to more coherent and resolute national policies. In fact, a “cabinet” threshold would encourage small parties to form joint electoral lists so as to qualify for cabinet posts!  Such a threshold would be comparable to having a 5% electoral threshold! However, by inducing small parties to form and campaign on joint lists, a “cabinet” threshold would enlarge their political horizons and thereby conduce to greater national unity!

For more by the writer, whose expertise is “how to make Israel more democratic using Jewish principles, and how to make Israel more  more Jewish by means of democratic principles", see Israel-America Renaissance Institute www.I-ari.org