Israeli Elections at Diplomatic Missions in India

Israeli Elections at Diplomatic Missions in India

Figure 1: Ambassador of Israel to India, Dr. Ron Malka, casting his vote.

New Delhi, 28th March, 2019: Israeli citizens posted in India voted today for the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, ahead of the general elections set to take place in Israel on 9th April, 2019.

Israeli envoys and their family members posted in the Embassy of Israel in New Delhi and in the Israeli Consulates in Mumbai and Bangalore, took part in the early polls today. The 3 ballot boxes count for over 100 votes in India. The ballots from the three Israeli missions in India will be sent to Jerusalem, where they will be securely stored and opened to be counted during the general elections in the country on 9th April, 2019. The Embassy is among 96 missions worldwide voting today, accounting for 5000 voters.

Israel's Embassy in New Delhi is the largest Israeli mission in Asia. After casting his vote in New Delhi this morning, Ambassador of Israel to India, Dr. Ron Malka said, "We, the Israeli community in India, are proud to exercise our civic duty and right to vote in the Israeli elections. As the only democratic state in the Middle East, Israel’s democratic process offers equal voting rights to all its citizens, including its diplomatic community around the world. We are happy to take part in this celebration of democracy with our brothers and sisters in democratic spirit in India.”

Ya’akov Finkelstein, Israel’s Consul General in Mumbai: “Israel is a small country, but a big democracy, with a magnificent mosaic of opinions, sectors and parties. It is symbolic that elections in India and in Israel are held days apart from one another this April,

as both successfully preserve similar democratic institutions and values since their establishment some 70 years ago, after British rule. Like our Indian friends, we are proud of our diverse society and vibrant democracy. Keeping in mind the situation in some of our neighboring countries, I believe both Indians and Israelis feel privileged to live in a free country and cherish their personal liberties."

Dana Kursh, Israel’s Consul General in Bangalore: “It is a privilege belonging to a democratic nation, and having the right, and the duty, to shape our future. I call all citizens of these two great nations to go out and vote.”

DEMOCRACY

Knesset elections 2019: Watch this short video for a quick overview.

Israeli citizens vote for their party of choice in national elections, bestowing sovereignty on the Knesset. The party leader who enjoys the confidence of a majority of Members of Knesset (usually from a coalition of parties) forms the government and becomes the prime minister. The single-chamber Knesset sits in Jerusalem. It has 120 members, who are elected to a four-year term. During its term, the Knesset may dissolve itself, leading to a new election.

Israel’s democratic foundations were laid by the Jewish community in the Land of Israel well before independence. The first elections to the community’s National Assembly were conducted in 1920, during British mandatory rule. From the very first Assembly, women enjoyed full rights to elect and be elected. The strong democratic institutions of the community laid the foundations for Israel’s parliamentary democracy once independence was achieved in 1948.