Gaza Border Residents Vote Amid Trauma, Seeking Change
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
Residents of communities devastated by the October 7th attacks voted in the recent elections, with trauma and a desire for change heavily influencing their decisions. Many expressed deep distrust in the current government and leadership, with some stating they would not return to their homes if the government remained in power. The elections are seen as crucial for the future of these communities, with voters weighing security concerns and past failures against their political choices. The desire for a new government and a return to normalcy is a dominant theme among those who voted.
The story in 7 lines · by baba
- Gaza border residents voted amidst trauma, with many linking political change to their return home.
- Survivors of the October 7th attacks expressed deep distrust in leadership and a desire for political upheaval.
- Displaced residents from communities like Nahl Oz and Be'eri see the election as critical for their future.
- Many voters cited feelings of abandonment and neglect as reasons for seeking a new government.
- The elections are viewed as a referendum on the handling of the October 7th massacre and subsequent security.
- Some residents expressed uncertainty about finding a candidate who can guarantee their safety.
- The trauma of the attacks continues to shape residents' political outlook and voting decisions.
Residents of communities near the Gaza border, still grappling with the trauma of the October 7th attacks, cast their votes in the recent elections, with many expressing a deep desire for political change. In Kibbutz Nahl Oz, Nissan Dekalo, who was the deputy security coordinator during the attack and fought for 13 hours, returned to the kibbutz for rehabilitation.
In Ofakim's Mishor HaGafen neighborhood, election signs are overshadowed by memorials to the victims. Residents feel abandoned, with many still suffering from the aftermath of the massacre. One resident, who previously voted Likud, plans to vote for Naftali Bennett this time, citing corruption and widening socioeconomic gaps. Efrat Mordechayev, who hid a wounded soldier on October 7th, feels invisible and is not voting, struggling with medication and sleep issues. She laments the lack of change in her neighborhood, which remains impoverished and neglected, with increased crime. Baruch Yitzhak, whose mother died and father is bedridden since the attack, still plans to vote Likud, believing any leader would act in their own interest.
For Kibbutz Be'eri, these elections are critical for the community's future, as many residents remain displaced. Avraham Dvori, known as Mancher, stated that some members will not return if the government is not replaced, calling it a "death sentence" for them. He himself returned to the kibbutz in late October 2023 due to his deep roots. Vered Gold, voting from the displacement site in Hatzerim, is determined to fight for change and a return to sanity, flying in from Panama with her son and daughter-in-law. In Sderot, near the memorial at the site of the former police station, residents like Tzvi Blumin, despite his October 7th trauma, still lean towards voting Likud, fearing other candidates might align with Arab parties and seeking a strong right-wing government. Shlomi Oz, however, is campaigning for the Yisrael Beiteinu party, believing many are shifting away from Likud.
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