Final Election Column Urges Calm Amidst Political Turmoil
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Columnist Yedidya Meir urges voters to remain calm and critically assess candidates in the final days before an election, framing it as a choice for Israel's Jewish identity. He criticizes left-wing parties' perceived agendas and advises against protest votes, particularly from the Haredi community. Meir emphasizes prayer and the desire of observant Jews for a holy life in Israel, concluding that the nation is not lost despite political turmoil.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Columnist Yedidya Meir urges calm and critical thinking amidst election-day political spin and heightened emotions.
- He frames the election as a choice between a Jewish state and a state of all its citizens.
- Meir criticizes left-wing parties' perceived agendas, including potential coalitions with Arab parties.
- He advises against protest votes, particularly from the Haredi community, urging support for viable parties.
- The columnist emphasizes the importance of prayer and the desire of observant Jews for a holy life in Israel.
In a final pre-election column, Yedidya Meir urges voters to maintain composure and critical thinking amidst the intense political spin and heightened emotions characteristic of election periods. He contrasts the current charged atmosphere with his friend's advice to maintain a "low pulse" when discussing public affairs, noting that the political discourse, from television studios to family WhatsApp groups, lacks this calm.
Meir frames the election as a pivotal choice between a Jewish state and a state of all its citizens, emphasizing the importance of "Eretz Israel and the Torah of Israel for the people of Israel." He criticulates the left-wing parties, suggesting their intentions are now openly declared, including potentially forming coalitions with Arab parties and enacting legislation that could prevent Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu from running again. He also lists potential actions like closing religious institutions and settlements, and imposing restrictions on appointments and budgets.
He addresses frustrations within the religious-Zionist and Haredi communities, citing a rabbi's concern about electing "UFOs", inexperienced or problematic candidates, to the Knesset. Meir specifically mentions Moshe Feiglin and Ofer Winter as examples of individuals whose public personas might not translate to effective political representation. He also touches upon the grievances of working Haredim regarding educational access and perceived neglect by their traditional parties, but cautions against supporting new, unproven parties as a form of protest.
Meir advises voters to be wary of campaign funding and hidden agendas, referencing accountant Israel Schweibel's concerns about foreign and progressive influences behind some initiatives, including those associated with donor Daniel Houssney. He implores voters not to be "useful idiots" of the left and to vote for parties within the religious bloc that can pass the electoral threshold, rather than casting protest votes out of personal frustration.
Concluding, Meir emphasizes the gravity of the election, likening it to a divine referendum on accepting the principles of Mount Sinai. He encourages prayer, referencing various liturgical passages, and invokes a letter from Rabbi Aharon of Belz, stressing that millions of Torah-observant Jews desire a life of holiness in the Land of Israel, asserting that despite the campaigns and incitement, "Israel is not yet orphaned."
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