The Russians are coming

Founded by the controversial Russian-born billionaire Arkadi Gaydamak, the Social Welfare Party (SWP) is but the latest gladiator to enter Israel’s increasingly fragmented political arena. For decades the Knesset was dominated by eternal foes Labor and Likud, yet today it is home to a dozen small and medium-size parties, while tens of others failed to meet the minimum amount of votes required to enter parliament. Within this widely varied political landscape, the distinct “Russian vote” is of growing importance. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989, some 1.2 million immigrants of Jewish descent were welcomed in Israel. Note, however, that although a Jew is generally defined as someone born to a Jewish mother, the Israeli Law of Return grants anyone with a Jewish grandparent the right to live the Zionist dream. It is estimated that some 300,000 Russian immigrants are not Jews. Note as well that not all