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Rafik Halabi

I'll vote, but who for?

Op-ed: The days of real political thought and debate are long gone, and all that is left are babbling celebrities and a worrying lack of knowledge.

This is first election campaign, since I received the right to vote, in which I am still undecided about how to cast my ballot. But never fear; there is no danger that I will give up that right - even though I am fully cognizant of my inability to influence the character of Israeli society.

 

 

To my heartfelt disappointment, in this election it seems that the country has abandoned its God-given right for the people of Israel to be called a light unto the nations: "I the LORD have called unto you in righteousness, and have taken hold of your hand, and submitted you as the people's covenant, as a light unto the nations" (Isaiah 42:6)

 

In the Israeli government and in the Knesset there are those who demand that Israeli Arabs be denied a vote, who wish to rip up the Declaration of Independence, while nationality bill pushes the Israeli society to withdraw more and more into a nationalist shell.

 

This time, I do not know who to vote for because I have lost a sense of political distinction. There is almost no leftwing, and a great deal of rightwing - parties that have become home to a battery of vocal celebrities and a host of journalists, but few ideologues.

  

Menachem Begin addressing the Knesset in 1980. A bygone time of political debate. (Photo: GPO) (Photo: GPO)
Menachem Begin addressing the Knesset in 1980. A bygone time of political debate. (Photo: GPO)

 

I miss the disputes between Begin and the left, over the two banks of the Jordan River (this is mine and so is that) and territorial compromise, between the kibbutzim and consolidation, between the Communists and the Revisionists, between Amos Oz, S. Izhar and Moshe Shamir. What do we have today? Twittering babble, shallow thinking and a worrying lack of knowledge.

 

There are almost no parties, just seasonal temporary lists, remnants of parties and unnatural associations - and all to take part in a survival reality show. It is only the patsy voter who does not change.

 

To the Druze community in general there is no point in even running. Soon they will smear us too, abandoning their cries of "a blood pact, a pact of brothers, brothers-in-arms, what you have done for the country". Enough already - get your empty slogans out of our faces.

 

The Arabs need not worry. They will vote for the United Arab List, Hadash and Balad, and some voters for hire will seek jobs as ministerial consultants, imams, Islamic judges, and they'll amuse themselves by hosting ministers with hearty meals.

 

The haredim will take care of themselves, without serving in the IDF and sometimes even without believing in Zionism. Only we, "the liberals ", will appear in the media, endure, whine and speak in flowery language that most people do not understand - and after the next election we will explain how we were right.

 

I'm going to vote and I call on everyone to be brave and choose someone who cares about democracy, human rights, social justice and peace. Is there such a party?! By March 17, I might just find one.

 

The author is head of Daliat al-Karmel regional council

 


פרסום ראשון: 12.14.14, 00:15
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