Israeli

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Israeli PA Political Systems

• A few basics

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Israel basic characteristics

• Highly centralized (unitary)
• Knesset (parliament)
• 120 seats
• PR system, closed list, 2 threshhold
• Hierarchical (leadership-driven) politics
• Porous boundaries between defense and
  legislative branches, and legislative and
  religious institutions
• Key interest groups Military (IDF) and religious
  establishment
• Strong and independent Supreme Court, but family
  law under separate religious courts
• Ethnic hierarchy (ethnocracy?)
• Re-conceptualizing Israel and the PA one regime
  or two?

3
Key Players
U.S.
PM
Generals
High Court of Justice
Cabinet
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)
President
PA/Fatah/ Hamas
Knesset
Rabbinical Establishment
Kadima
Shas NRP-Nat Union
Likud
Labor
United Arab List
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Palestinian National Authority (PA)
President
Appoints PM cabinet
Directly elected by people
Prime Minister cabinet
??????
Mixed electoral system 50 by PR 50 by plurality
Palestinian Legislative Council 132 members
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Basic Law (serves as constitution)
A general view over Al Manara roundabout adorned
with posters for the electoral campaign one day
before the legislative elections, in the West
Bank town of Ramallah January 24, 2006.
(MAANnews/Charlotte de Bellabre
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Recent events

• Nov 2004 Arafat dies
• Aug-Sept 2005 unilateral Israel disengagement
  from Gaza
• Israeli assassinations and airstrikes against
  Hamas and Gaza Palestinian rocket attacks in
  Israel
• Fatah/Hamas ceasefire towards Israel 2005-2006
• Jan 2006 Hamas victory in PA Legislative
  elections
• June 2007 Battle of Gaza
• Gaza and W. Bank de facto divided into two
  entities
• Emergency government in PA
• 2007-2008 Israel embargo on Gaza
• strictly limits exports to Gaza seals borders
  (Jan 2008)
• Critical shortages of fuel medicine, food,
  supplies in Gaza
• Jan 2008 Palestinian breaching of Gaza-Egypt wall
• Casualties 2005-2007
• Palestinians deaths 1,290
• Israeli deaths 86
• Palestinian Injuries 6,297
• Israeli injuries 1183
• Source UN

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