Comments on: This time – we all vote?

By: Zahava Englard

Zahava Englard — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 13:30:09 +0000

You do bring up some very valid points…and yes, there are good arguments on both sides of the spectrum with regard to Israelis who served in the army, yet established lives outside of the country. While reasons for doing so vary along with individual circumstances, it is understandable that many feel they are undeservingly left out in the cold. On that level, I do agree that it is important to revisit the voting laws and establish a new and more equitable criteria. On a personal note, my son who is in the army had to leave the country this past Sat. night for a couple of weeks and we realized he would not be able to vote. Not good.

By: Harold Berman

Harold Berman — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 18:35:53 +0000

I personally don't have a problem with not being allowed to vote if you don't actually physically live in a place. Especially when it comes to Israel. It is true that many Israelis abroad are passionately connected to Israel (although in my experience, certainly not all). But when Israeli elections involve, much more than in the U.S., existential issues that touch on the very existence of the State, it is just that those who live here and will be most directly affected by the decisions of our politicians be the ones to decide who those politicians will be. Even if an Israeli abroad is "connected at the hip" to Israel, they still will not be directly affected by peace negotiations, decisions about budget allocations, etc. – certainly not in the same way as someone who is physically here will be affected. As an American (now also an Israeli) who made aliyah, I do have the right to vote in U.S. elections because the U.S. has granted me that right. But I would have absolutely no problem if the U.S. decided differently – the people who actually live there will be more affected than I will by the decisions that U.S. politcians make. And so it is here as well – just moreso.

By: Harold Berman

Harold Berman — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 18:35:41 +0000

I personally don't have a problem with not being allowed to vote if you don't actually physically live in a place. Especially when it comes to Israel. It is true that many Israelis abroad are passionately connected to Israel (although in my experience, certainly not all). But when Israeli elections involve, much more than in the U.S., existential issues that touch on the very existence of the State, it is just and right that those who live here and will be most directly affected by the decisions of our politicians be the ones to decide who those politicians will be. Even if an Israeli abroad is "connected at the hip" to Israel, they still will not be directly affected by peace negotiations, decisions about budget allocations, etc. – certainly not in the same way as someone who is physically here will be affected. As an American (now also an Israeli) who made aliyah, I do have the right to vote in U.S. elections because the U.S. has granted me that right. But I would have absolutely no problem if the U.S. decided differently – the people who actually live there will be more affected than I will by the decisions that U.S. politicians make. And so it is here as well – just moreso.

By: John Yorke

John Yorke — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 13:30:26 +0000

So, people who are Israeli citizens can't vote if they happen to be out of the country on election day.

Any Israeli excluded from something that may determine the course of Israel's history and politics for many years ahead must find that situation quite frustrating indeed.

But what about all the other citizens that can't vote, the non-Israeli ones? These are those permanently resident outside Israel and comprise the vast bulk of humanity. Are they also to have no direct influence on Israel's future plans, especially when such plans might have serious and continuing consequences right across the globe?

We all live on a much smaller planet these days and each nation, even a single individual of that nation, can now impact everyone's life to an extent far greater than at any time in the past. And we've all seen it happen.

Then isn't it only fair for the rest of the world to respond in some prescribed fashion should that nation, or even that individual, act in a manner that could imperil the rest of us?

Http://yorketowers.blogspot.com

With the bar raised this high, how long would it be before the players themselves abandoned the game entirely and started looking around for one in which much lower risk factors are the norm?

By: Dana Meijler-Gross

Dana Meijler-Gross — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 10:50:48 +0000

Excellent post Rina. Couldn't agree more!