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Difference between revisions of "Blog/February 2009/Feb 13th"

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Help [[tsedaka|feed the hungry]] in Israel!
 
Help [[tsedaka|feed the hungry]] in Israel!
  
Elections:
+
As you're all aware by now, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_legislative_election,_2009 Israeli elections] came and went.  The weather was very windy and rainy that day -- I thought perhaps symbolic of the "winds of change"... but it remains unclear what, if anything, changed.  Just so you know, the terms "left" and "right" wing mean something completely different here in Israel than they do in the US (or other places).  As generally used here, "right-wing" means "less willing to compromise with the Arabs", and the opposite for the left-wing.  Some of the "right-wing" parties would be considered "left-wing" in the US, based on economic policies... so just be aware of what I mean by "right" and "left" here.
* [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304694699&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull would you rather be a dog?]
+
 
* [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3668203,00.html banana republic]
+
The Likud (considered center-right) went from 12 to 27 seats - an impressive gain, though not nearly as impressive as the 36 or so it would have got had Netanyahu not played fast and loose with his "list" (forcing the actual right-wing down to unrealistic slots on the list).  Kadima (considered center-left) went from 29 to 28 seats - also impressive, considering how many people were really dissatisfied with the policies (or lack thereof) of the Olmert government.  The real winner was Yisrael Beiteinu (considered right-wing), which went from 11 to 15 seats and became the third largest party, displacing the Labor (left-wing) which went from 19 to 13.
* [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304732185&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull M"A in the news]
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 +
The real issue is whether Israel can refrain from being a [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3668203,00.html banana republic] and caving in to every "request" of Uncle Sam.  I'm not confident any of the "leaders" can resist the temptation to do anything possible to please the rich uncle from America.  Already the [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129910 signs of betrayal] by the so-called "right" have begun, though it's still too early to know how things will play out.  Of course, the current crop of leaders is only interested [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129896 in the public good].  Yeah.  Nevertheless, it was [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304754409&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull exhilarating] to take part in the wild-West democratic process here.
 +
 
 
* The US has [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304719892&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull its problems] too
 
* The US has [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304719892&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull its problems] too
* The [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129910 betrayal begins]
 
* It's [http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129896 good to be king]
 
* [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233304754409&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull exhilaration]
 
  
 
Arabs:
 
Arabs:

Revision as of 12:20, 13 February 2009

February 13th (See this week's devar torah)
Send Ron feedback on this blog

Hi again!

Help feed the hungry in Israel!

As you're all aware by now, the Israeli elections came and went. The weather was very windy and rainy that day -- I thought perhaps symbolic of the "winds of change"... but it remains unclear what, if anything, changed. Just so you know, the terms "left" and "right" wing mean something completely different here in Israel than they do in the US (or other places). As generally used here, "right-wing" means "less willing to compromise with the Arabs", and the opposite for the left-wing. Some of the "right-wing" parties would be considered "left-wing" in the US, based on economic policies... so just be aware of what I mean by "right" and "left" here.

The Likud (considered center-right) went from 12 to 27 seats - an impressive gain, though not nearly as impressive as the 36 or so it would have got had Netanyahu not played fast and loose with his "list" (forcing the actual right-wing down to unrealistic slots on the list). Kadima (considered center-left) went from 29 to 28 seats - also impressive, considering how many people were really dissatisfied with the policies (or lack thereof) of the Olmert government. The real winner was Yisrael Beiteinu (considered right-wing), which went from 11 to 15 seats and became the third largest party, displacing the Labor (left-wing) which went from 19 to 13.

The real issue is whether Israel can refrain from being a banana republic and caving in to every "request" of Uncle Sam. I'm not confident any of the "leaders" can resist the temptation to do anything possible to please the rich uncle from America. Already the signs of betrayal by the so-called "right" have begun, though it's still too early to know how things will play out. Of course, the current crop of leaders is only interested in the public good. Yeah. Nevertheless, it was exhilarating to take part in the wild-West democratic process here.

Arabs:

Work:

Aliyah:

  • If the so-called "liberal" streams want a voice, they can make aliyah

Recipes:

Until next week,
Shabbat shalom!



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