Israel Goes Back to Elections: What You Need to Know

Few people thought the patchwork Israeli government of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid would last even a year. That they did is notable.

But lasting that year was also a testament to just how successful Israel, and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have been at erasing the entire idea of ending the occupation, considering Palestinian rights, or even envisioning a far-off day where the Israeli boot can be lifted off the Palestinian neck.

The parts of the outgoing coalition that support any sort of engagement with the Palestinian or respect for their basic rights all went as far as they possibly could, given their own political constraints, to maintain the government under Bennett. It was easier for parties like Yesh Atid, Labor, and Kahol Lavan, as they are conservative in their approach to Palestinian rights, although they back negotiations for a two-state solution, a tired idea that Palestinians (and anyone paying attention) don’t believe is viable anymore if it ever was.

But Meretz and, especially, Ra’am — the first Arab party ever to sit as a full partner in a governing coalition — had a more difficult tightrope to walk. Both had Knesset Members who talked of bolting the coalition in protest of Israel’s behavior, particularly in Jerusalem. But although one Meretz MK did quit the coalition…