Page 8 - Issue 28

represent around 75% (!) of the poor
population in Israel. The population that truly
needs democracy, that most needs equal
representation in the Knesset. A population that
has no assets, control of the media, academic

presence. This is the population that most
needs democracy and its voice will not be heard
in the expected coalition and this needs to
concern us all, especially those of us who voted
for the “change bloc.”

So yes, I’m looking forward to the new
government. I see it as an opportunity for
important changes and maybe even some

degree of political stability. But there is no
cause for celebration here. When most of the
weak and resource-lacking citizens of Israel are
not represented, we cannot expect beneficial
and equitable public policy. So, instead of
pushing these populations out, and repeating

the mistakes of Mapai (early Labor party) who
created generations of alienation, now we must
reach out to the parties and populations headed
to the opposition and to remember that a
strong democracy is measured not by the
majority’s ability to control the minority, but by
the ability to build covenants (brit) and brave
agreements that transcend the bounds of