Regarding your closing remarks about encouraging more Israeli Arabs to vote in the upcoming Israeli elections, it seems that you are hoping for greater Arab representation in the Knesset. Are you saying that you would like to see a secular Jewish coalition together with the Arab parties as preferable to an accommodation with the religious Jews?
Both the Arab parties and religious parties are problematic coalition partners for different reasons. But the demands of the Haredim, dear Just, can no longer be accomodated, period. Either way, they have been a locked-in part of the right wing bloc since 1977 and it must be defeated if Israel is to survive. Which is assisted by a larger Arab turnout.
Well, for transparency, this position should be publicized widely, so that the people can choose. Those campaigning for Jewish votes should state: "It is highly unlikely that any one party will receive a majority, and a coalition will be necessary to form a government. We hereby state openly that we will not join together with Haredi parties, nor with the current religious Ziionist leadership who support settlement expansion, and instead, we will work towards forming a coalition with Arab partners". True, this may be jarring to some traditional Jews, but perhaps the liberal parties can utilize your services to explain why Haredim and religious Jews are actually the most severe threat to the country, and all right-thinking and progressive people need to turn to the Arabs for salvation.
But that is not anyone's position, as far as I know. All the parties on the center-left would be happy to do a coalition with the Haredim if the Haredim were not demanding outrageous things that will destroy the country. The Haredim will never go with the center-left if they have a majority together with the right. And never have. The right has always depended on the Haredim since 1977. This is why the right will not do the needed changes. This is not about a desire to work together. The Haredim demand certain things. Those demands will destroy the country. The center-left will not give them those demands, and that's that. If the Haredim were willing to install a core curriculum, to have equality where they also serve in the army like everyone else, to not depend on subsidies to the degree they do, to not demand a tuition for seminary students instead of paying a tuition, to not try to impose religion on other people, then sure, the door is wide open to the Haredim. That would be a fantastic thing. But none of it is the case because of the Haredim. You want transparency? There’s your transparency.
Regarding your closing remarks about encouraging more Israeli Arabs to vote in the upcoming Israeli elections, it seems that you are hoping for greater Arab representation in the Knesset. Are you saying that you would like to see a secular Jewish coalition together with the Arab parties as preferable to an accommodation with the religious Jews?
Both the Arab parties and religious parties are problematic coalition partners for different reasons. But the demands of the Haredim, dear Just, can no longer be accomodated, period. Either way, they have been a locked-in part of the right wing bloc since 1977 and it must be defeated if Israel is to survive. Which is assisted by a larger Arab turnout.
Well, for transparency, this position should be publicized widely, so that the people can choose. Those campaigning for Jewish votes should state: "It is highly unlikely that any one party will receive a majority, and a coalition will be necessary to form a government. We hereby state openly that we will not join together with Haredi parties, nor with the current religious Ziionist leadership who support settlement expansion, and instead, we will work towards forming a coalition with Arab partners". True, this may be jarring to some traditional Jews, but perhaps the liberal parties can utilize your services to explain why Haredim and religious Jews are actually the most severe threat to the country, and all right-thinking and progressive people need to turn to the Arabs for salvation.
But that is not anyone's position, as far as I know. All the parties on the center-left would be happy to do a coalition with the Haredim if the Haredim were not demanding outrageous things that will destroy the country. The Haredim will never go with the center-left if they have a majority together with the right. And never have. The right has always depended on the Haredim since 1977. This is why the right will not do the needed changes. This is not about a desire to work together. The Haredim demand certain things. Those demands will destroy the country. The center-left will not give them those demands, and that's that. If the Haredim were willing to install a core curriculum, to have equality where they also serve in the army like everyone else, to not depend on subsidies to the degree they do, to not demand a tuition for seminary students instead of paying a tuition, to not try to impose religion on other people, then sure, the door is wide open to the Haredim. That would be a fantastic thing. But none of it is the case because of the Haredim. You want transparency? There’s your transparency.