Election Reform Protesters Jeer Israeli Lawmakers

Thousands of Israelis demanding electoral reform demonstrated outside the Parliament today as it opened its summer session by commemorating the 45th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat.

At the gates of the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, demonstrators booed and whistled at members arriving for the special session.

“Everyone is disgusted with what’s going on,” said Roni Lottner, 24. “They offer jobs. They offer bribes to try to form a government. The system is distorted.”

Nearly two months of intense political bargaining to form a government have disillusioned many Israelis and fueled the reform movement. Because neither Likud nor Labor have a majority in the Knesset, the small religious parties and breakaway members of the two major parties hold the power to determine the makeup of the next government.

More than 2,400 demonstrators calling for direct election of the prime minister and Knesset members gathered in the Rose Garden to rally for electoral reform.

“We’ve just got to change the system so the majority rules,” Akiva Ehrlich said. “Today the system we have allows immorality and bribery.”

Staying away from political declarations, acting Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir reminded the opening session of the thousands of Jews who gave their lives to create the state of Israel.

“Its independence did not come easily. It was the result of many years of political struggle,” he said. “It was born out of generations of work . . . and it was achieved by the pure blood of thousands of youths who gave their lives.”

Parliament Speaker Dov Shilanksy, who escaped the Holocaust, told the members that it was their task to remember those who were killed by the Nazis.