Israel’s News Blog Magazine: Daily Stories Video and Photos

by Liza Farachdel

Less than one week shy of Election Day, and to say that pre-election excitement is in the air would be an almost dream-like exaggeration. Instead of the usual bombardment by Israeli youth pushing flyers and stickers at me at every intersection and junction, I only spot the occasional roadside billboard while riding the train to work, or banners hung half-heartedly on fences, flapping listlessly in the wind. Nobody I know is watching the daily election commercials, and not only do my friends not know who to vote for, but many of them have told me that they don’t think they’ll be voting at all - a most disturbing trend indeed.

Here we are, living in a society resembling a democracy, and while granted, this gives one the right not to vote, the question is why.

Why not exercise your right to vote? I can understand the lethargy, the lack of motivation, the frustration. The very act of living in Israel is exhausting, and we are tired of politics. I imagine that we are even more tired of politicians – their scheming and scandals, the perceived lack of progress on just about any issue (except, quite coincidentally I’m sure, for the issue of expanding salaries and benefits for Knesset members, which is always dealt with in a most efficient manner).

We are tired. And on many levels, we just don’t care anymore. Sadly, this is a poor excuse for not fulfilling your obligation – no wait, your right – as a citizen to vote.

Okay, so you don’t want to hear about politics, or negotiations, or security. There must be something you care about, something that must be changed. The environment is quickly going to hell in a hand-basket – why not vote for the Green Party? Senior citizens are getting a raw deal – vote for the pensioners party. Obtaining your smoke of choice is a felony? Vote Alei Yarok – the Green Leaf Party. There’s a party running on the platform of men’s rights, a party to fight the banks, and the taxi drivers’ party. There’s even a party whose sole platform point is to fight government corruption (and if they manage to get elected to the Knesset, they will certainly have their hands full!).

We’ve got several Arab parties, we’ve got the Communist party. It’s like the Baskin Robbins of politics around here, and with so many flavors to choose from, there must be some issue that makes your socks roll up and down, some cause that gets your knickers in a twist!

Consider how many election campaigns around the world are meaningless shams executed for public consumption, nations where leadership roles are passed from father to son (and I’m not referring to monarchial societies like the United Kingdom, Norway or Jordan, but rather places like Egypt or Syria). Consider countries where opposition politicians are poisoned (Ukraine) and opposition supporters attacked by government forces (Egypt). Consider countries with military governments that stifle the opposition (Belarus or Myanmar), ignoring election results not in their favor, disregarding the will of the people. The list goes on and on. Countries where people are literally dying to vote, and here we are, living in a democracy where every individual over the age of 18 has the right - indeed, the privilege - to vote, and to vote for any party they want!

And this is the point of it all. You can vote for whomever you want. WHOMEVER YOU WANT! This is your chance to ignore the large parties, stick your tongue out at the big guys, give the proverbial finger to those identified with the left, the right and the center. You can vote to expand rights for taxi drivers! You can vote to legalize marijuana! The choices are simply mind-boggling!

I can understand your disillusionment with politics, your indifference, but whether or not you vote, life will still go on here, and your elected officials will still be doing their best (though whether or not we agree with this is debatable at best) to run the country on a day-to-day basis. Issues and crises must still be dealt with, whether they be of an environmental nature, a medical nature or a social welfare nature, and if you want to have your say as to how these matters will be handled, you’d better pay a little visit to your polling station on March 28th.

Otherwise, don’t let me hear you complaining about the sorry state of affairs here. You lose that right by not making your voice heard on Election Day.

Now go do what you gotta do, go do what many others in the world cannot do. It’s your right, your privilege, your obligation.

‘Nuff said.

For a complete list of all the Israeli political parties, including links to their sites, a list of their candidates and a summary of their platforms, click here.