Next week (April 9) Israel will be holding its elections. We’re going to have the day off, and I hope everyone does their civic duty and votes.
Israel has a number of parties in the elections and when I was researching who to vote for, I found that many parties have only a few people on their lists and a handful of program points. Most parties in Israel know they have no chance of becoming the largest party putting their top person in the prime minister’s chair. They run because it’s important to have their voices in the Knesset. Israel is run by a coalition so they can sometimes be the swing vote that makes or breaks a bill or even a government coalition.
In this election, there is an actual race between two parties with full platforms: Likud run by Netanyahu and Blue and White led by a triumvirate of Benny Gantz, Yair Lapid, and Moshe Ya’alon.
The popular vote is important, but it’s just the beginning of deciding who “wins” in a coalition system. The party that wins the popular vote will get the opportunity to form a coalition government. If that party can’t do it, the party with the next largest number of votes gets its chance.
Here’s my prediction: Netanyahu will “win” in spite of personal corruption scandals, his embarrassing family, and proof that bots created social media accounts to promote him (I wonder who the meddlers are?). He’s an incumbent – it will be his fifth term (think about how crazy that is!). He has his party faithful. He’s been working hard on coalition partners (distasteful as they may be and some barely over the threshold to run). People believe that his diplomatic skills and his excellent English are positive for Israel.
Even so, here’s my gratitude list for this election. I am thankful that
- The election cycle is only three and a half months long.
- Annoying text messages and calls from unknown numbers will end on April 9.
- I don’t watch enough Israeli TV to see all the political ads (those highlighted on social media are untranslatably horrible).
- I’ve managed to avoid seeing bus ads.
- We changed our clocks so I had one hour less of the election campaign.
- The election is in the spring when hope is renewed and we are reminded that this too shall pass.
Wisteria in Liberty Bell Park
A citrus tree of some kind in my yard is starting to bloom and it smells wonderful!
I didn’t pay any attention to this sage plant all winter and it bloomed anyway!
Zamenhof Street and Lincoln Street. Funny fact: The pronunciation of Lincoln in Hebrew doesn’t resemble the English very much. All the letters are pronounced with an extra vowel between the last l and n – Lin-co-lin.
Outside the Orthodox Union building. They take care to bring lots of glorious color to the street.
Near Jabotinksy Street. As I took the photos of the window box and the orange blossoms, a group of monks in brown robes tied with rope belts walked by speaking Italian. Just a typical day in Jerusalem.
Gan HaShoshanim. I was nearby, so I decided to take a detour and I’m glad I did. Another interesting fact: Gan HaShoshanim means rose garden, but there are no roses growing in this park.
Arlozorov Street. Wisteria, lilacs, and many other beautiful things.
And finishing my walk with a passion fruit ice cream. I can happily confirm that it was GOOD!
The Write Place (for me) 