Page 6 - Issue 22

Led by a woman is

reason enough

By Anton Marks

I’m a Socialist-Zionist. This means that looking at the leaders
of the various parties standing for election, and their political
platforms, I’m not expecting significant representation of my
political views in the 24th Knesset. However, it would be
unthinkable for me to not participate in the (imperfect)
democratic electoral process. So, as always, I’ll be casting my
vote on March 23rd.

Now, generally, my top issues that concern me at election
time are stances on the strengthening of the welfare state
and commitments to narrowing economic gaps, and a real
desire to negotiate with the Palestinians in order to end the
occupation and reach a two-state solution. Hence Socialist-
Zionism. Left-wing on social issues. Left-wing on national-
demographic-peace issues.

But there is something else that has struck me hard in recent
days — the party which has received my vote for all of my
adult life, both in Israel and in the UK, is the only party
standing in the Israeli elections which is headed by a woman.

And this is enough of a reason to vote for her and her party.
The UK Labour Party has never had a woman as the elected
leader of the party.

119 countries have never ever elected a woman as head of
state or government, including the United States.