The Juvenile Habits of Israel’s Voters

They want a party that is fashionable and attractive and so they vote for celebrities rather than a political program. Instead of parties with an agenda, Israelis get empty shells whose sole agenda is to gain power. The whole political debate is dumbed down as a consequence.

The success of parties like Kulanu and Yesh Atid, or Tzipi Livni’s Hatnua two years ago, is a result of this trend. Kulanu is a vehicle for Moshe Kahlon, a popular former Likud politician who wants to be finance minister. Yesh Atid was born to give a platform to the well-known TV anchor, Yair Lapid, and allow him to get in the game. Hatnua was a way for Ms. Livni to stay in the game.