Archive for the 'politika' Category
February 10th, 2009 by elie
Aww. Google Israel got all cute and created an election day logo for the search engine’s Israeli homepage:
Of course, that’s nothing like how our Israeli kalpi (polling) stations actually look; we get a blue tray of paper ballots behind a giant blue oak tag (à la 8th grade science project) and cardboard blue boxes to stick the blue envelopes in. But hey, it’s better than dangling-chads behind curtains I suppose.
The little button on the second ‘g’ reads: בחירות, which means elections in Hebrew.
Here’s the article in Haaretz (where I actually saw it first; shows how much I actually use search engines):
Google Israel marks election day with special logo
February 9th, 2009 by elie
I’m sitting in my office, listening as every single person who leaves for the day calls out in the hallway:
“Happy voting!”
“אל תשכח להצביע מחר”
“!ללכת לקלפי, להצביע ולהשפיע”
“Vote wisely!”
At lunch, I walked past a lively discussion on the strategy of voting and throughout the day have been pepper-sprayed with water cooler conversations, Tweets, Facebook statuses, and I.M. chats on the topic.
But the way I feel right now is this: if only the politicians had discussed the elections - and more importantly, their platforms - as much as we all did today. If only their passion seemed as strong as our indecision.
On one hand, I know who I don’t want in power. On the other hand, I don’t know who I do want in power. And the Israeli election is so complex: it’s not just two parties, one rep, badda bing, done. It’s more like, 30 parties. A list of reps for each one. The top of the top three who could become prime minister. Their nondescript platforms.
To vote for a small party with a specific platform, or to vote for a prime minister with a specific personality? To vote for socio-economic rights or security issues? To ignore the religious factor? To trust again or to have blind faith?
Whereas the recent American election seemed somewhat two dimensional - or maybe even three dimensional - this Israeli election is about 2348743 dimensional (and counting).
What happened to just voting for your leader?
January 20th, 2009 by elie
It’s a day for democracy everywhere, isn’t it?
I know what you think I mean, but actually I’m talking about the Matte Yehuda Regional Council and Tzur Hadassah local council elections held today.
Who knew that such a little town could make such a big deal out of its leadership? Apparently Tzur Hadassah is the biggest town in the Matte Yehuda region and the constant goal is independence. All that sums up to about one thing: a whole lot of campaigning around the Tzur Hadassah block.
The elections campaigns that ran through Tzur Hadassah the past few months have been humorously intense. I’ve enjoyed all the door-to-door late-night doorbell ringing (11pm last night, folks), the personalized candies, the endless waste of printed paper, the decorative mailbox-stuffing, the half-torn outdoor posters. We read our share of mud-slinging, inaccurate polls, biased articles. All that for an area with some thousands people.
It was a cute, quaint, small-town elections experience. Fairly quick, all things considered.
And now on to bigger and more complex elections… Coming to a kalpi near you on February 10th.
January 6th, 2009 by elie
The past week and a half has been intense, painful, busy, impatient, energetic, emotional, nerve-wracking and exciting. And it’s not only for the reason you’re probably assuming. I haven’t been able to get all my thoughts out in an organized manner, so instead I’ll spew them in bullet form.
- People will ask what gender your baby is and not believe you when you tell them you don’t know.
- It’s ok to support the mentality of the Gaza incursion while feeling guilty and sad about deaths of innocent.
- When it rains, it pours… No family visits for almost a year and then everyone comes at once. And then it (actually) rains that whole time.
- It’s ok to feel like four years is a long time when you’re surrounded by people who have been living here for ten.
- People will assume everything you are feeling has to do with being pregnant; you’re hungry/tired/energetic because you’re pregnant, not because you’re human.
- There’s a big difference between charedim in Israel and charedim in the diaspora.
- There’s a big difference between living on ‘this’ side of Israel and living on the side of Israel that is getting pounded daily.
- ‘Friendly’ fire… what a strange name for a painful concept.
- Some people will offer really good perspectives and advice on pregnancy, birth and becoming a parent, no matter what their core beliefs.
- It’s ok to pick and choose with whom you are willing to discuss the Gaza war. There are certain friends and enemies for whom you are just not willing to convert conversation into debate.
- Sometimes after you’ve accepted the fundamental differences between you and loved ones, you discover that maybe they are not so fundamental after all.
- Not feeling festive, even though it’s a holiday time, is perfectly fine when your country is in a state of war. That also goes for Inauguration Day partying.
- Amidst everything else, you can find a kind of comfort in the movement in your belly, which no one else can give you. You can be intense, impatient, energetic, emotional, and excited about soon meeting someone. You can sorely miss someone you’ve never met. You can confide in them when everything around you is just too complex.
December 30th, 2008 by elie
And now, for something new and different.
So… here in Israel, we are more computers than people. And I know I was a bit snobbish when I wrote about the Israeli elections campaigns using internet tech and themes from their American counterparts. But this actually tops all that for real:
The Israeli Consulate has its own Twitter account and will be fielding Q&A today from 1pm-3pm Eastern Standard Time. The consulate also has two blogs, Israel Politik and IsRealli, as well as a Facebook page, a YouTube channel, and MySpace profile.
I suppose it’s logical; Israel is a country that needs more PR than most others. But it might also be nice to have seen the American government hold Q&A sessions on Twitter or sending down-to-earth updates on blog posts or YouTube videos.
Anyway, if you want to know more about the Twitter event, here’s the consulate’s blog post about it:
Tomorrow, 30 December, from 1-3PM EST, David Saranga, Consul of Media and Public Affairs in New York, will answer your questions about the situation in Israel and Gaza in a “Citizens’ Press Conference.”
You can submit your question by directing it to our Twitter account at http://www.twitter.com/IsraelConsulate . We will do our best to answer through Twitter. If an answer requires more than the 140 character limit, we will respond on Twitter with a link to an answer posted in this blog.
We hope you will be able to join us–tell your friends!!
I hope it turns out worthwhile.
December 24th, 2008 by elie
Here’s something new and different: Israeli television channel ערוץ 2 and YouTube seem to have teamed up to bring us (Hebrew) coverage of the 2009 Knesset elections campaigns.
The campaigns have begun, although they’re obviously not as exciting or inspiring as the American ones this past year. Fair enough. But it is interesting that the major parties and news outlets are trying to take pages right out of the elections handbooks of the American elections culture:
- Shas is using Twitter (and from what I’ve heard, annoyingly so) and has adopted Barack Obama’s “Yes we can” slogan.
- Ehud Barak of the (dying) Labor party accepted an invitation to participate in an Eretz Nehederet skit last night.
- Bibi of Likud apparently carbon copied Obama’s website style for his own website.
- I’ve repeatedly seen plays on the phrase “Yes we can,” in headlines, blog posts and websites.
- Eretz Nehederet is, of course, having fun with all the jokes.
Not sure where Kadima is in all this. Maybe they’re feeling the heat and thinking of a controversial right-hand (wo)man pick.
Back to the new YouTube-Channel 2 page: It’s kinda cool to see all the comments and users involved this way, via the internet. Of course, everything comes to Israel after it goes through the States first, but maybe we can hope that some of the more stupid elections aspects will not follow.
However, poor candidate choice apparently always will.
November 9th, 2008 by elie
Here’s some more encouraging news about creating a clean Israeli environment:
Israel to set National Cleaning Day
Knesset approves bill to set national cleaning day some time in the spring. Soldiers, students, educators and concerned citizens to take part in cleaning up Israel, in hopes of promoting environmental preservation awareness (Ynet)
Found this article from last week. The bill was passed last Tuesday and the date for the cleaning day is yet to be announced, though the bill’s pushers seem to favor the Passover season for its spirit of cleaning. It’ll be a day dedicated to helping the land, and more importantly, for PR professionals and activists to promote a cleaner Israel.
The initiators of the bill were Labor-Meimad’s Science, Culture and Sport Minister Raleb Majadele and Knesset Member Nadia Hilou.
November 6th, 2008 by elie
I’m sure someone already realized this and mentioned it… but…
I learned today that with Barack Obama in the White House, and Rahm Emanuel as his chief of staff, the Americans will be led by… thunder (רעם - Rahm) and lightning (ברק - Barack).
Hmm.
October 15th, 2008 by elie
A reminder message from the airport parking pay station:
How many more chagim will pass before Gilad Shalit comes home? (How many airport parking tickets will we buy before there’s a new message?)
July 30th, 2008 by elie
Just watched Prime Minister Olmert’s impromtu press release (yes, he is still the prime minister).
Nothing new, really. He’ll quit once the new Kadima leader is voted for and announced. He won’t run, but who of us thought he was going to?
I will say this: His speech was classily done. The Israeli media has butchered him, and he’s killed his own reputation, but he is human and there was remorse in his voice. There was also anger and frustration; it can’t be easy to be a world leader hated by your own people.
Right, President Bush?