ABSTRACT
This chapter presents and explians the argument that Israel is ruled by a number of—both elected and unelected—elites, that these are elitist in the manner in which they exert their power, and that this has helped create an increasingly inegalitarian society. Elites may be elitist and generate a relatively close elite connection with each other, through a constant flow of resources among themselves. Israeli elites have perfected a close elite connection, whereby the power of the elected political elite of the government, and that of the other major elites, is enhanced through a flow of a variety of benefits among them. The central elite connection was that between the political and the bureaucratic elite. This political-bureaucratic elite connection was created by the founding fathers of the pre-state society. Another elite connection is that between the political leadership and the business/economic magnates. It has been effected through party-political appointments and promotions in particular to top and key positions in the administration.
