Sammy Smooha (1997) applied the model of “ethnic democracy” to the case of Israel exposing the contradictions derived from the very nature of the state which is, as it is stated in the Declaration of Independence, Jewish and democratic. According to the founding political ideology, Zionism and democracy are compatible and Israel is equally committed to the fulfilment of both. Notwithstanding this, the cleavage between the Jewish majority and the Arab minority is still the main point of internal friction.
This gap spills over into the programs of Israel’s major parties and influences their strategy in the electoral arena and in the process of coalition building.This paper will focus on the attempt to delineate how and if this structural configuration is affecting Israeli party system.
Indeed, even if the Israeli Arabs seem well-integrated into the mainstream of Israeli politics, on one hand their voting rate are strongly subjected to significant variations as a direct consequence of political occurrences, while on the other their political network and parties are still not actual participants in coalition politics and in the decision-making process.
Another crucial point that will be taken into consideration is the extent in which this process take part into fostering democracy backsliding in Israel, challenging the endurance of democratic institutions and values in Israel.
This analysis will provide an insight about the party system perspective and dynamics in a political context where ethnic democracy seems a stable feature and where democratic institutions will be required to provide a solid ground to face future challenges.