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Home , Avigdor Lieberman, Hatnua, Naftali Bennett, The Jewish Home, Yair Lapid, Yesh Atid

Foreign Affairs, . ing party, , headed by the Minister of yahu had forged an alliance with the Russian-speak Netan- Benjamin perspective, in elections the With of held somesurprises. strategy electoral results the and the failed, party the strengthening that however, mains, re- fact The democracy. Israeli the characterising volatility parliamentary high the considering itself, of and in accomplishment an quite is longevity cal ment the longest after David Ben Gurion. This politi- politician to remain at the head of the Israeli govern- the becoming thus time, third the for Minister Prime Certainly, in March 2013, Netanyahu was appointed aim. this in succeeded partially only he Ultimately, decisions. budget difficult before particularly ence, pres- parliamentary party’s his strengthen to larity cided to make use of his relatively widespread popu- de- he a 120), of out MPs (66 majority political stable enjoying hitherto While for. wished had anyahu Net- Benjamin Minister Prime that elections islative leg- early the held Israelis the 2013, January 22 On The January2013Elections Sciences Po Paris Centre d’EtudesetdeRecherches Internationales, scientifique (CNRS) Research Director, Centrenationaldelarecherche Alain Dieckhoff and RegionalUncertainty : ReturntothePolls Geographical Overview|MiddleEastandT 2 1 expand their joint constituency. However, the inverse . Documentation Française. publication annual the Charillon, Frédéric with together co-edited, also has he token, same the Lieberman resigned from his post in mid-December 2012, after being charged with fraud and embezzlement in a case involving companies in companies involving case a in embezzlement and fraud with charged being after 2012, mid-December in post his from resigned Lieberman published has He 1 (Armand Colin, 2011) and edited and 2011) Colin, (Armand israélo-arabe conflit Le 2 The aim was to - urkey ev utl hy r fry 5,0 suet o the of students 55,000 forty, are they until serve re- the in periods out carry then and military the in serving years three spend men, are they if nationalist-religious Israelis, and secular Whereas ultra-orthodox . for service military from emptions ex- generous of face the in injustice of sense ing grow- the Yeshwas choose to voters led that motivation second the concerns, social Besides tate pricesandthereductionofdirecttaxes. es- real of regulation the particularly more and tice, jus- social greater demand to movement” “tent the that protested massively over class the summer of 2011 middle in same the is This bear. they scription con- military and taxes of load disproportionate the by overwhelmed Israelis middle secular the essentially of class, mobilisation the to due likely is most This not. was extent its surveys, by anticipated been had party YairLapid’s of success the Though ties weretherevelationsofelections. par- two These seats). (12 Home Jewish The nett’s Ben- Naftali and seats) Yair(19 journalist Lapid the by led Future”), a is (“There YeshAtid party centre centre and right-wing votes, lost a loss that benefited had the Likud the Suddenly, party. sian-speaking “secular”Rus- the the appreciate of all image at not did who voters, traditionalist hand, other the on and ; militant in anchored deeply undeniably hand, liberal right voters, because the unified list was one the on groups: dis- constituency Likud two pleased union electoral the that fact the to be attributed can decline This 31. to down went they tions, elec- before the in seats 42 from occurred: (Routledge, 2013). By 2013). (Routledge, Israel Modern of Handbook Routledge The published by La by published Nord/Moyen-Orient du Afrique

IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2013 193 Geographical Overview | Middle East and Turkey Panorama IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2013 194 Geographical Overview | Middle East and Turkey Panorama tion partners are divided, being in favour in being YairLapid divided, are partners tion coali- the all, of first this: for reasons two are There priority. a being of chance little stands – now years for impasse an at – Authority Palestinian the with negotiations of relaunching the hand, other the On 2012). in GDP the of (4.2% deficit public of growth the check to as so ministry, defence the for cluding in- cuts, budget entail will measure latter The terity. aus- of budget a implement fragmentation; mentary Jews; devise an institutional reform to reduce parlia- ultra-orthodox enlisting on working start be threefold: will task immediate Its party. Livni, Likud Tzipi the around Minister Affairs Foreign former by led Atid, and the centre party , Yesh gathering government coalition a formed has Netanyahu Benjamin results, election the of view In of Americanimmigrants. the party’s new , , from a family of facet entrepreneur” “high-tech the by attracted voters, even along the Mediterranean coast, who are luring by constituency ideological this beyond well following its expand The to managed has case, Home Jewish any In settlements. Bank West in port sup- of deal great a garnered it how explains which control), Israeli under still Westterritory the Bank of in favour of the annexation of the entire Zone C (60% is it message: nationalist highly its is it distinguishes Home, shares ’s concern for equality. What Jewish The elections, the of revelation second The ultra-orthodox Jews servicefor exemptions frommilitary injustice inthefaceofgenerous Yesh Atidwasthegrowingsenseof motivation thatledvoterstochoose Besides socialconcerns,thesecond State budget. the by funded aid social of types various on pend ultra-orthodox Jews are not allowed to work but de- Torah,the of youngstudy the to wholly themselves dedicate to them requires exemption the since ver, den of military service is not shared equally. Moreo- bur- the that means exemption general This 1948. from agreement old an of virtue by obligations tary Talmudicof institutes mili- from exempt are studies o h Mdl Es i Mrh f 03 h was, he 2013, action any announce of to not careful very moreover, March in East Middle the to obtaining significant results. During his official visit without Israeli-Palestinian term first his of beginning the the at question in involved deeply ready al- was he since path, this take will Obama that election can afford to be bolder, re- but it is of not certain concern the from free an president principle, American In term? second Obama’s Barack during negotiations of relaunch a expect we Can see thelightwithoutIsrael’sconsent. hu wished to indicate that no Palestinian State would Netanya- gestures, these Through PA. the of behalf on Israel by collected taxes of transfer the freezing in and temporarily (including Zone E-1, to the east of ), programmes construction and ning plan- new launching i.e. retaliation, double taking by demonstrated government Israeli the as practice, in anything change however, not, did victory symbolic This 2012). (November UN the with status server ob- non-member Palestine’s obtaining community, international the before Palestine to of case the chose bring Abbas Mahmoud stalemate, persistent Palestinian Authority (PA). In an attempt to break the the vis-à-vis Aviv Tel by out carried being was gle wrestling strug- political military subdued more a , with a match in engaged was Israel While quo. status fragile a maintaining cease-fire new a with er, lat- days eight close, a “mini-war”to the came lem), Israel (for the first time including against and Jerusa- missiles and rockets 1,500 launched mas weapons workshops and official buildings while Ha- launchers, rocket against aviation Israeli by out ried car- raids air 1,500 After Hamas. and Israel tween ation Cast Lead, nothing had really been settled be- Oper- after years four that, demonstrated campaign military this of launching The situation. Strip the Gaza of deterioration further after Defence of Pillar Operation launched Israel 2012, November 14 On Israeli-Palestinian Deadlock Growing RiskofegionalIsolation context ishardlyconducivetoboldadvances. regional alarming rather the secondly, and rejects; Bennett Naftali which States, two of solution the of opee upnin f upis n pi 2012. April in supplies of suspension complete interrupting the gas supply and times, finally leading to the several sabotaged was – needs country’s the of 40% covers which – Israel to gas carrying Bedouins and Palestinians. In addition, the pipeline transition chaotic the stage, under the action of activist groups involving during accelerated has the Sinai Peninsula, a phenomenon that is not new, fects. The deterioration of the security situation on ef- rapid very had has in revolution The es. concern for confining the influence of Islamist forc- an alliance with the , shared the same by tied countries, two the presidency, Mubarak’s ments had not been lacking over the thirty years of disagree - political Although Israel. for loss tegic stra- a constituted regime Mubarak the of end The A DisquietingArabSpring of concernforbothTurkey andIsrael. tions taking place in the region, which are a matter transforma- deep the to deal great a owes clearly rapprochement announced This assault). the ing ade on Gaza (nine Turkish activists were killed dur- block naval the Turkishbreak a to of seeking ship navyIsraeli the by interception the to pursuant out Tel Aviv and Ankara after a nearly three-year falling between reconciliation official the of nouncement an- the is gain tangible only The whatsoever. plan 3 try ontheroadtowards energyindependence. to counter Israel’s regional ambitions. In this regard, this In ambitions. regional Israel’s counter to attempted often has Syria Assads, the of leadership the Under concern. central a course, of are, Syria in developments the Egypt, of case the from Apart November’s “mini-war” inGaza. last after ceasefire the of declaration the in Cairo played role active the by illustrated perfectly also was prudence This Aviv. Tel with relations matic diplo- maintaining by in succeeded pragmatism has demonstrating Egypt new the if even Israel, Cairo. The context has thus undeniably changed for for Hamas in Gaza, which now has a political ally in situation the modified has 2012, June in President asMorsi Mohammed of election the by symbolised Finally, the rise to power of Islamist forces in Egypt, In April 2013, Israel began tapping the underwater Tamar gas field (whose reserves are estimated at 238 billion putting cubic the metres), coun- 3 -

accompanied byprolongedchaos Syriacouldbe the endofBaathist time, Israelileadersareawarethat gain inmanyregards.Atthesame represent anundeniablestrategic The downfalloftheregimewould unresolved. at a time when the Iranian nuclear question remains East Middle the in isolation greater means Spring Arab the Israel, For distancing. a and Israel wards to- posture critical more a of adoption the to leads ganised, the Islamists take the day, which inevitably or- are elections fair when whereas (Jordan) ened weak or (Egypt) away swept been have regimes Friendly light. positive very a in East Middle the in part of public opinion, do not see the developments large a like decision-makers, Israeli whole, the On River Jordan. the of banks two the between ties close the given would Israel, for consequences negative monarchy direct very have the of weakening long-term A opposition. political the appeased not have duced kingdom, the extremely limited reforms he has intro- dullah has managed to date to stem agitation in his Ab- King Though Israel. with treaty peace a signed have to State Arab only the Egypt, with together fact, in is, Kingdom Hashemite The attention. with followed likewise are Jordan in developments The ie (n atclr n h mltr lvl. ht will happen tomorrowinthe“newSyria”? What level). military the on particular (in lines red certain cross to not careful always was and well quite relations power the understood but Israel of adversary obstinate an was Assads the under effects. Syria regional destabilising with pro- chaos, by longed accompanied be could Syria Baathist of same time, Israeli leaders are well aware that the end liance with Teheran, weakening of At ). the al- the of (end regards many in gain strategic niable the downfall of the regime would represent an unde- -

IEMed. Mediterranean Yearbook 2013 195 Geographical Overview | Middle East and Turkey Panorama