http://www.jta.org/ENTRY_PERMALINK_HERE/op-ed-reforms-key-to-israeli-political-stability/ Israel must enact reforms to bring stability back to a political system that has become highly unstable and hostage to sectarian interests, writes the president of the Israel Democracy Institute. en-us acarmon@jta.org Copyright 2008 2008-12-17T;01:00:03-05:00 yoseph@mantinband.com The small parties don’t represent small sectorial interests as stated.  Many Likud voters agree with Shas values and many Labor voters identify with Meretz.  Their problem is that they’re not allowed to vote for more than one list.  The direct vote for prime minister was a good thing for democracy in Israel in that it allowed voters direct influence on that high post, and it would be good to have direct votes for (almost) all the cabinet ministers, and likewise for Knesset members by regional representation. The small parties don’t represent small sectorial interests as stated.  Many Likud voters agree with Shas values and many Labor voters identify with Meretz.  Their problem is that they’re not allowed to vote for more than one list.  The direct vote for prime minister was a good thing for democracy in Israel in that it allowed voters direct influence on that high post, and it would be good to have direct votes for (almost) all the cabinet ministers, and likewise for Knesset members by regional representation.

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