Comments on: Israel’s ambivalent left (and left-center) voter

By: Davida Chazan

Davida Chazan — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 09:10:01 +0000

This is so true, and what Mr. Futterman has totally ignored. Calling Meretz irrelevant is just wrong.

By: Rachel Cohen Yeshurun

Rachel Cohen Yeshurun — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 22:50:05 +0000

Vote Meretz. Remember that we vote for the Knesset not the government. On voting day we decide who sits in the Knesset. Meretz did a lot of good work last term (see http://www.oknesset.org) with just 3 members. I'll be happy to see those three members back in and even happier to see more Meretz people with values that I share working for me in the next Knesset.

By: Rika Chaval

Rika Chaval — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 16:57:40 +0000

In any case, those who choose to stay home, because none of the parties complies entirely to their own high standards, are opting for the worst of all choices: giving way for right-wingers to make the choice and right-wing lawmakers make it to knesset.

So, please, don't be fryers, VOTE, VOTE, VOTE and take your friends and family with you to the ballot boxes!

By: Josef Avesar

Josef Avesar — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 21:06:37 +0000

As it relates to the Israeli Palestinian conflict, both the “Left” and the “Right”, sees the solution in terms of division of real estate. They both view the Two State Solution as the only formula for Peace. This formula failed many times before and is not likely to succeed. Israel cannot make peace with the Palestinians using the formula of dividing the land. The only way to solve the Israeli Palestinian Conflict is to expand their democracies. An Israeli Palestinian Confederation creates excellent mechanisms for both sides to engage with each other using a different platform sharing a common secular government. This could be done while at the same time Israel and Palestine continue to have their own independent governments.

By: Jen Maidenberg

Jen Maidenberg — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 10:42:53 +0000

Yesh Atid has made a personal effort to reach out to me this week after I posted earlier in the week that I was hard-core undecided. I suggest all of the leftish/centerish parties get on social media and make as many one-to-one connections as possible. It really works! Better than a JFK style handshake/babyholding.

By: Gil Bar-Or

Gil Bar-Or — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 04:39:47 +0000

Saying that Meretz is unlikely to make an impact is simply not true. In the previous Knesset, with only three MKs (just 3 out of 120!), they carried out the most parliamentary activities on average of any party. They have been the leaders in both proposing and passing bills (http://oknesset.org/agenda/).

All of the recent polls have shown that Meretz is doubling its strength, and a Maariv poll yesterday even showed 7 seats. If they were able to do so much with just 3 MKs, imagine their impact with double, maybe triple that!

By: Debbie Pulver

Debbie Pulver — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 22:21:46 +0000

The main thing at this point is to go and vote…preferably for a party who will pass the threshold.

By: Yishai Kohen

Yishai Kohen — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:35:39 +0000

Q: What’s a left-wing voter to do?

A: Grow up and try reality.

By: Yishai Kohen

Yishai Kohen — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 21:35:39 +0000

Q: What’s a left-wing voter to do?

A: Grow up and try reality.

By: Zvi Lando

Zvi Lando — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:22:07 +0000

I love the same old myth this guy regurgitates: "social services instead of settlements". Long ago proved down right ridiculous, but like they say, a new sucker is born every minute… The truth behind the myth: If the Israelis who live "over the green line" lived instead "inside" the green line, not only would the government spend the SAME amount of tax Shekels on them, it is proven that MORE would be spent taking in account the infrastructure costs inside the green line and job costs per worker. So.. like I said a new sucker is born.. but you cannot fool everyone sir!

By: Ilan Toren

Ilan Toren — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:07:41 +0000

If you want left-center why not Labor or Yesh Atid? Yechomovitch is serious and well meaning. I think her economic plan isn't workable and strongly disagree with her support for Abbas as a partner. Not sure if she just says this or if she really believes it. She otherwise seems sane, but there you go. That is the difference between right and left in Israel anyway. Lapid is more of a cipher. Does he act reasonable because he wants in as a politician or is he sincere? As you say he has some interesting ideas and unlike Labor he wants to be in a position where they are taken into account. You could vote Meretz. It is to the left what Otzma Israel are to the right.

By: Harvey Stein

Harvey Stein — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:03:48 +0000

Da'am – if we want new (but profoundly needed) ideas and a persuasive articulator of them in the Knesset, Da'am is the only choice.

By: Ben Needleman

Ben Needleman — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 12:21:38 +0000

Duhh, vote meretz! You say that they harp on about issues people don't want to hear about-that's because the occupation of 2.5 million people without equal rights is never pleasant to talk about!
With labor avoiding the issue entirely what's needed is a strong left wing zionist voice that counter balances the jingoism and pro-annexation voices of Habayit Hayehudi (more like habayit Hateokrati HaIrani) and likud.

Voting for a party which stands up against injustice is never a wasted vote.