Survey: Israelis want constituency system of gov't

78% of Israelis dissatisfied with the political leadership in the country, up 23% from last year.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
knesset 88 (photo credit: )
knesset 88
(photo credit: )
Seventy-eight percent of Israelis are dissatisfied with the political leadership in the country, according to a poll released by the Citizens' Empowerment Center in Israel Wednesday. That number is up 23% from last year, indicating the rapidly increasing dissatisfaction of the Israeli public, said a spokesman for the Citizens' Empowerment Center (CECI). The survey was conducted in a sample group of 547 people, with a 4.5% error. On Wednesday, the CECI presented the survey to a special committee for electoral reform, along with their own plan for a new electoral system in Israel. Many aspects of the plan mirrored proposals already under consideration, such as a new Knesset structure that would see 60 MKs elected through the traditional party lists, while the other 60 are elected as regional representatives. However, the CECI's suggestions also included a comprehensive map of Israel divided into 17 regions that could elect local representatives. "We have seen a very clear indication that the Israeli public is interested in direct representation and would like to change it's current system," said Opposition Leader Binyamin Netanyahu, who attended the committee. "This plan is a serious one we should give further attention to." Another statistic from the CECI survey showed that 61% of Israelis would support a constituent system of government. "The fact that without knowing the details of the constituency system so many people would support it, shows the demand from the public," said Netanyahu. Over the past several months, the Knesset has seen nearly half a dozen proposals for a new electoral system proposed by various think tanks and private citizens.