Israeli Government and Leadership

Topic 1

The Israeli Governmental System

Israel operates under a political system known as a parliamentary democracy, similar to the United Kingdom and other countries within the Commonwealth. Unlike the presidential system where the president is the head of state and the head of government, in the Israeli system, these roles are divided between the President and the Prime Minister, respectively.

The Israeli political system is characterized by a multi-party system, and the government is typically composed of a coalition of parties due to the diverse political landscape and proportional representation in the parliament (Knesset). The Knesset is a unicameral body comprised of 120 members, who are elected through a national vote every four years, or when the parliament is dissolved earlier. The Prime Minister, who is traditionally the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Knesset, holds significant executive powers (Oshri et al., 2022).

The Israeli system does have a separation of powers similar to the concept in the U.S. system, but the distribution and exercise of these powers are different due to the parliamentary nature of the system. The executive power in Israel is vested in the government (cabinet) led by the Prime Minister, who is often the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Knesset. The President of Israel, a largely ceremonial role, is the head of state and is elected by the Knesset for a single seven-year term. The legislative power is vested in the Knesset. This body passes all laws and supervises the work of the government through its committees. The members of the Knesset are elected through proportional representation. The judiciary in Israel is independent and has the power of judicial review. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and is empowered to adjudicate civil and criminal matters. It also functions as a High Court of Justice (Bagatz) hearing petitions against the decisions of state authorities.

In comparison to the presidential system, such as that in the United States, Israel's system exhibits more interaction and overlap between the executive and legislative branches due to the parliamentary structure. In a presidential system, the executive branch is clearly separated from the legislative branch. The President cannot be a member of Congress, and vice versa. However, in Israel, the executive (Prime Minister) is typically also a member of the legislative branch (Knesset).

Power Distribution in the Israeli Governmental System

The power in the Israeli political system is distributed amongst various branches, but the core of the executive power lies with the Prime Minister and the government. The Prime Minister, as the head of government, plays a central role in forming the government, outlining its policy, and directing its activities. The government, composed of ministers who are also Knesset members, holds executive power and is responsible for implementing the country's domestic and foreign policies.

To give recent examples, two instances that demonstrate where the power lies in the Israeli system include coalition building and legislation influence. For instance, following the general elections, it is typically observed that no single party is able to secure an outright majority in the Knesset. Therefore, the power to form a government lies in the ability to build and maintain coalitions. For instance, in the aftermath of the 2022 elections, the Prime Minister had to negotiate with several smaller parties to secure enough support to form a government, demonstrating the Prime Minister's pivotal role and the importance of coalition politics in the exercise of power (Gold, 2022).

In the other example, the government, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, often has significant influence on the legislative agenda. For instance, a controversial security bill proposed by the Prime Minister's party was passed in the Knesset last year, despite significant opposition. This shows the government's ability to drive legislative changes and highlights the overlap between the executive and legislative branches in the parliamentary system.

Sources of the Israeli Prime Minister's Power

The Israeli Prime Minister's power emanates primarily from three sources: coalition, executive authority, and public support (Korn, 2010).

Leadership of Majority Party or Coalition

The Prime Minister is typically the leader of the party or coalition that has the majority in the Knesset. This position affords them the ability to guide policy, command the...

…factions in the Knesset. The formation and growth of Yesh Atid under Lapid's leadership suggests a high level of motivation and ambition. Despite not being part of the traditional political establishment, Lapid has established himself and his party as key players in Israeli politics. His ability to build and maintain a new political party in a competitive environment showcases his management skills, while his efforts to change the narrative around centrist politics in Israel demonstrate his leadership abilities.

Leadership vs. Management

Based on John P. Kotter's (1990) perspective that management is about coping with complexity while leadership is about coping with change, it can be said that all three leaders have exhibited both leadership and management skills to various extents.

Additionally, according to Goleman (1998), emotional intelligence is crucial to leadership and often supersedes the importance of IQ and technical skills.

In the case of Benjamin Netanyahu, his long tenure in the constantly shifting and high-stakes environment of Israeli politics testifies to his significant emotional intelligence. He demonstrates an ability to perceive, use, understand, and manage emotions in himself and others, a key aspect of emotional intelligence. His successful mobilization of support even amidst controversy hints at his capacity for empathy and influencing the emotions of his political base.

Itamar Ben Gvir's rise in Israeli politics can also be linked to his emotional intelligence. His ability to connect with his constituency on a deep emotional level, particularly in relation to nationalist sentiments, illustrates his skills in perceiving and understanding emotions. However, his controversial and often divisive rhetoric may suggest limitations in his emotional management skills, particularly in terms of fostering broad-based empathy.

Yair Lapid, as a centrist politician, showcases his emotional intelligence through his ability to understand and address the concerns and frustrations of the Israeli middle class. His moderation in the politically polarized environment of Israeli politics indicates strong self-management and regulation, key aspects of emotional intelligence.

So, while IQ and technical skills are undeniably important in political leadership, Netanyahu, Ben Gvir, and Lapid exemplify how emotional intelligence can be a defining factor in their leadership successes. As Goleman posits, emotional intelligence indeed appears to be…