Transformation of Society: Voting Patterns in Israel’s 2013 Elections

​By examining the voting patterns of Israel’s Jewish community during the 2013 parliamentary elections this paper show how results reflect a growing neo-Zionist (conservative Zionist) political consensus. It looks at the political context of the elections to illuminate the shape and form of this consensus, as well as its parameters on identity and function of the Israeli state, the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, the establishment of a Palestinian state, and Israel’s economic system. It also examines the emergence of new rifts regarding the status of fundamentalist religious parties and burden sharing (in terms of security and economy). It shows that while the new neo-Zionist consensus explains the continuous victory and stability of Israel’s right and center-right wing parties over the past decade, understanding the new rift helps make clear the changes of power and shift of votes within these parties.


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​By examining the voting patterns of Israel’s Jewish community during the 2013 parliamentary elections this paper show how results reflect a growing neo-Zionist (conservative Zionist) political consensus. It looks at the political context of the elections to illuminate the shape and form of this consensus, as well as its parameters on identity and function of the Israeli state, the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, the establishment of a Palestinian state, and Israel’s economic system. It also examines the emergence of new rifts regarding the status of fundamentalist religious parties and burden sharing (in terms of security and economy). It shows that while the new neo-Zionist consensus explains the continuous victory and stability of Israel’s right and center-right wing parties over the past decade, understanding the new rift helps make clear the changes of power and shift of votes within these parties.


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