1. In recent years, negotiations between parliamentary factions in Italy have had an increasing impact on the process of government formation. The frequency of such negotiations and resulting coalition agreements necessitates a more thorough examination of this phenomenon in order to understand the interaction between coalition agreements and government policy.

The phenomenon of coalition governments is not a new one. A number of European states have witnessed their emergence since the late 19th century. It is, however, in regimes of extreme multi-party politics — as the Italian system must be considered — that this form of government has found full enforcement.

Coalition agreements are resolutions which come into existence for a legislative period fixed by the agreement of two or more political parties. These parties are part of a ‘parliament’, which by a majority vote decides to form and support a government. Such practice, however, can be carried out only by a ‘hung parliament’ consisting of several political parties, each enjoying less than an evident absolute majority, and thus unable to form a government membered by a single political party.

Once in existence, the coalition stands as agreed by the parties forming the government. The party members are obliged to co-operate in order to promote the interests of the government of the ‘multi-party-state’, in accordance with the constitution.

A new section dealing with the practice of Israel in matters relating to International Law is being introduced herewith. This section will appear regularly in the Israel Law Review bringing to our readers significant cases as well as developments and trends in this important field of law in Israel. The following survey has been prepared by Ms. B. Cohen under the supervision of Prof. R. Lapidoth and Mr. M. Hirsch of the International Law Department of the Faculty of Law at the Hebrew University. The responsibility for the content is the author's.