England invented a system to check king and barons. Israel, under British influence, cookie cuttered Parliament. Ever since, preventable diplomatic disasters have befallen Israel. Parliamentary systems, while great for countries who are in a state of peace, are unwiedly for countries at war. They do not always fall in line under a Churchill facing a Hitler. Israel's party system is not a check to executive power; it is a rope around the neck of the executive instead of around the party. There is a chance with a Presidential system that the corruption which flourished when tiny parties could make or break a coalition will diminish, so that all elements of society will benefit according to their needs. At present, the tiny parties benefit all out of proportion to their numbers. And the political demands they have imposed on governments to the right and left have crippled the decision making of Prime Ministers. Kol ha Am. Time for a change. And thank God Sharon is doing it.

Supreme leader Dr. Duce Sharon wants to institute some sort of constitutional monarchy? If not Omri than who?

to the historical fascist parties. It fits the criteria: Fascism, after it attains political control of a country, involves a powerful, dictatorial state that views the nation as superior to the individuals or groups of individuals composing it. Fascism calls for the regeneration of the nation and using populist appeals for unity (Griffin).

Sharon wants to centralize his power and create a strong leader, but one without the checks and balances that go along with a "presidential" system

Israel has to have a system of government where the individual is held accountable. If a politician is found guilty of corruption, that person needs to be removed from office immediately, and a new candidate should be elected from that person's party. The corrupt official should never be permitted to run for political office in Israel again. After two years in office, all political appointees in the Knesset must be elected by the citizens of Israel, in order to determine whether or not they will serve out their terms. If a political appointee is incompetent, he or she can be removed from office by the vote of the people. Accountability is what we need in Israel.

But adding direct district representation? Or, if we stay with the current monstrosity, raising the minimun % of vote a party needs to get a seat to 5%?

There is no real regional nature to Israel so each district needs to elect several (say 5-7) MK's. That will ensure heterogenity and a fair respresentation to secular, religious, Arab, Jewish, left and right voices. Only if the system can be defended as a honest attempt to ensure accountability will it be acceptable. There is a real problem with haredi and Arab citizens looking at plans like these as an attempt to dilute their vote. It is a big problem in the States with the gerrymandering of district borders.

There is no question the system needs to be changed, both to protect it from consumate power-grabbers like Sharon and to afford accountable representation to the voters. We do need to proceed carefully, however, to avoid the mistakes of the past. Not all change is for the better.

He will give away Judea and Samaria in exchange for promises. Yossi Beilin's policies are being implemented. Why Israelis cannot see the disaster that faces them with Sharon is beyond understanding.

Is Sharon kidding? So he expects people to believe that in his autocratic style, that he will be the one to help change the way the cesspool is operating with corrupt party lists? That would be as crazy as stating that Barak will change the justice system, ridding itself of its complete hegemony. What a load of manuer he is shoveling.

PAUL EIDELBERG HAS BEEN CALLING FOR A REFORMED SYSTEM, PRESIDENTIAL, DISTRICTS, INDEPENDENT LEGISLATURE, ETC...FOR A WHILE. NOW THAT BARUCH MARZEL AND THE NATIONAL JEWISH FRONT MERGED WITH YAMIN YISRAEL, SHARON HOPEFULLY WILL VOTE FOR THEM. ; ~)