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In Israel there is a common term when discussing third world, underdeveloped corrupt countries – A Banana Republic (no offence meant to any would be banana lovers). When there is a discussion on the absurdity of some of the things we see and hear in the news, we end it with “this is why we are a banana republic”.

Part of the reason that the Likud party is falling apart today is probably based on the weak foundation that it has come to rely on in these recent years. Not that any of the current political players minded, they were just too busy playing the game to their advantage to mind. They saw the corruption and criminal behavior around them, enjoyed the spoils and it was all good. Well folks, the party is over – Literally !

The Central Committee in the Likud is the body that actually runs the Likud, electing the Members of Knesset from within the group that is considered the core of the Likud. Over the years the membership of the Central Committee expanded and it became clear the a position in the club meant perks. Stronger members became power lords and wealthy gangsters called the shots and had the power to raise and drop a political candidate.

These sort of wheeling and dealings with political votes became so blatant in the 2003 Primaries (Internal Likud Elections) that some politicians like Neomi Blumental in the City Tower Scandal were caught exposed. Neomi was caught buying 15 Central Committee members and their wives a night at the City Tower Hotel and paying for it in cash (using her ministry driver who later turned government witness) in return for a promise of support in the coming primaries. It got to the point in those elections that one of these power lords actually had his young niece elected to the Knesset, just because he had the clout to spare. She had no idea how and why but she became a Member of Knesset.

Following these obvious scandals Sharon promised to make a change, clean house and suggested a change to the election process. The Primaries Law was for political parties with more then 15 seats in the Knesset. The new law was to insure that primaries in the big parties will be expanded to include all party members voting and not be decided on by Central Committee members.

Sharon’s proposal wasn’t well received by the Central Committee and a Likud party law was passed that stipulated that any Members of Knesset (MK) that votes in support of the Primaries Law will not be able to run for Knesset again as a Likud party member. This outright spelled out that the Central Committee will punish any Likud MK that tried to take away its power.

The Primaries Law wasn’t followed up by Sharon (after all Omri Sharon was also one of the winners from the Central Committee System) and once the public eye was away the idea was placed in the political freezer.

In April 2005 the Israeli Supreme Court warned the Likud Party legal counsel that the constitution of the Likud is unlawful. The Likud court decided that the law was constitutional but made an amendment – The MK voting against the Central Committee will have a chance for appeal !

This law is STILL in effect.

This is what one would describe as a Banana Republic type scenario !

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