But, as opinion polls have found, and Mr Netanyahu apparently missed, a good half of the country was uncomfortable with his decision to exercise that claim right now, at Har Homa, in the teeth of Palestinian, other Arab and international opposition.

ECONOMIST: Will Netanyahu bring in Peres?

The fact that it is a largely cosmetic exercise is borne out by the fact that, in trying to claim that all members of the new House will be equal, the report says that, in effect, the number of elected members is so small that they will not make much difference to outcomes.

BBC: Elections don't equal democracy