Politics

I finally know who to vote for in the upcoming Knesset elections. That's the positive outcome of the event I attended this evening, a panel discussion in English at the Great Synagogue hosted by the Jerusalem Post, AACI, and a whole slew of American Orthodox institutions. The less positive outcome is that I now fear for the future of this country even more than I did before, as many of the speakers, not to mention audience reaction, made my skin crawl.

I actually took pretty careful notes during the event (and kept thinking to myself of the irreverent comments I'd add while blogging, some of which I whispered to Kes as they occurred to me), but instead of typing them all up, I think I'll just give some overall thoughts and impressions.

First of all, it did not escape my notice that of the nine panelists, only two were women and only one was not wearing a kippa (though it seemed as though the Kadima rep, Nahum Shai, only donned one for the occasion). The nine panelists represented Likud, Labor, Kadima, Yisrael Beitenu, Ichud Leumi, HaBayit HaYehudi, Shas, Meretz, and HaTnuah HaYeruka (Green Movement)-Meimad. No Arab parties were represented (which, given the audience, was not really necessary), nor were the Pensioners or the Holocausat Survivor-Marajuana parties.

Unsurprisingly, the talk focused mainly on security issues. In fact, unless I missed something, only 3 panelists mentioned anything other than security in their opening remarks--Danny Ayalon of Yisrael Beitenu talked of the need for better governance, Michael Melchior of HaTnuah HaYerukah-Meimad talked of the importance of domestic issues such as education and the environment, and Avraham Michaeli of Shas I think said something about universal social rights. Oh, and Uri Bank of Ichud Leumi talked about how he's the representative of Anglo olim and will fight for our rights (after declaring that Israel belongs only to us and not to Arabs, which was met by me jumping out of my skin and much of the rest of the room applauding).

Often, when I hang out with my left-wing friends (who happen to be the people with whom I most often discuss politics and people whose intelligence in general often overwhelms me) I feel uncomfortable because I don't actually believe in the possibility of peace (at least not in the near future) and their ideas, to me, seem lofty and commendable but ultimately unrealistic. What I learned about myself tonight is that I would much rather vote for a party that has lofty goals that understands a basic principle of morality and reality than crazy people who at best work only under an assumption of fear and hatred and at worst under the worst form of nationalism that claims to have Israel's best interests at heart but in reality is well, totally blind to reality and morality.

It was upsetting to me to hear politicians call for the subjugation of Arabs and the end to the idea of a two-state solution, in no equivocal terms. But it's their prerogative to say whatever they want. What upset me more was the support for these ideas displayed by the audience. It was also upsetting to me that of the four audience questions selected at the end, only one was about an issue other than security or Arabs and none were about domestic social or economic issues. (The questions were about a two-state solition, Jerusalem, governance, and Iran). When the question about governance was asked, many in the audience took that as their cue to leave.

I ask my fellow Anglo olim, how can you so blatantly not care about the country you have chosen to make your home? How is it that the only thing that matters to you is bombing Iran and maintaining control over East Jerusalem? How can you not care about the global economic crisis from which Israel is not immune, about the failing educational system at every level, questions surrounding clean energy, pollution, and water consumption, issues of healthcare and pensions, debate over child and survivor subsidies, the fact that the government is corrupt, unstable, unaccountable, and broken? When I left the room I felt an intense to desire not to be associated with these people and a renewed understanding of my left-wing friends' positions.

And so I'll be voting for HaTnuah HaYeruka-Meimad on election day, the only party that seems to hold the same values as I do--education and electoral reform, the environment, and a reasoned and realistic approach towards a two-state solution. It is the only party I can vote for in good conscience (though to be fair 3 of the other speakers were unoffensive enough--one whom I don't agree with at all--Meretz, and two of whom I don't agree with enough--Labor and Kadima).