Presidential Daily Brief {International Studies}
Private22
PDB2.docxStudent Name: Princess K. Nyarko
PSCI 3650 (Spring 2019 OB)
President’s Daily Brief
Date: 16 April 2019
Intelligence Cutoff Date (ICOD): 2359 HST 16 April 2019
Subject: Israel Elections
Israel’s elections have been recently concluded and on 10th April 2019, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu was declared as the winner. The win has set Netanyahu to serve for a record 5th term in the office. Netanyahu was campaigning under the Likud party with his close opponent, Benny Gantz was from the Blue and White party. The election was closely contested between and Netanyahu won with a margin of 1 party seat. While the Likud party garnered 36 seats, the Blue and White party was able to get 35 seats. This makes him the candidate to form a coalition government since forming the Knesset requires a minimum of 61 seats. However, no single party in history has ever obtained the total of 61 seats[endnoteRef:1]. It has always been a norm to form coalition government. [1: ]
This issue is of relevance to the president of the United States as it affects American Jews living in Israel. The United States has also been following Israel’s elections closely and the president took a photo with Likud’s leader, Netanyahu, which was used during the campaign season. This makes the election and the results relevant to the president as he can be seen to have actively participated in the campaigns. After his win, Netanyahu is believed to create coalitions which will be detrimental to the American Jewish community in Israel. The coalition is meant to indict him of any corruption charges against him. The request made from the other group will be what negatively impacts the Jews[endnoteRef:2]. [2: ]
The president has been in support of Netanyahu throughout his campaign and they have formed a partnership. This saw the United States president inviting Netanyahu to stand with him when he signed the proclamation that recognized Israel’s claim over the disputed Golan Heights. Netanyahu helped in convincing the United States to change its longtime Middle East policy[endnoteRef:3]. This is believed to facilitate peace deals between the world’s superpower, America, and the Palestine. This is a long awaited event as clashes between this two states has been ongoing for a long period of time. [3: ]
The situation is not likely to change since the results of the election were conclusive. However, incidences to look out for is the formation of the coalition government. Everyone is waiting to see who Netanyahu will choose to form the government. This is because, he has not attained the required 61 seats to form his own government. Speculations lie with his fierce opponent, Grantz. However, during his campaigns, he had promised to form a coalition with Likud’s natural partners. Grantz’s Blue and white party does not fall in this category and hence it might not be part of the next coalition government. The natural partners comprise the right wing and they are set to support Netanyahu in his bid for legislation that will help indict him of the three criminal charges he is facing[endnoteRef:4]. [4: ]
Israel’s elections have concluded peacefully and Netanyahu declared the winner. The support he has garnered from United States president, Donald Trump, will help the country make agreements that are vital to the country’s progress and peace. What is mostly of concern is the formation of the coalition government and everyone is on the lookout to see how that is concluded. This is believed to be the beginning of long term peaceful relations between the United States and America.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/04/israel-elections-exit-polls-show-frontrunners-neck nec190409190959007.html
https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/presidents-meddled-israel-elections-190405160212216.html
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5472519,00.html
