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'Politics in Israel are cool' By Raphael Ahren Looking at the current political theater in Israel one might think politics here is pretty much as bad as it gets. But Eli Gurock, the Anglo coordinator for Jerusalem mayoral candidate Nir Barkat, prefers Israel to America when it comes to politics. Gurock, a former journalist who covered the 2000 presidential election between George Bush and Al Gore for a TV station in New York, told Haaretz there is "something very refreshing about Israeli politics. I enjoy the process more. It's not nearly as dirty." Advertisement Campaigns in Israel are run very differently, he added. "It doesn't look like an American election at all. It's kind of cool, it's more personal. It reminds me of elections on college campuses, because it's so personal, and because people can get to know the candidates if they want to." While Gurock has only been involved in local elections so far, he feels the difference in mentalities extends to the national level as well. He said he once met former Defense Minister Amir Peretz while he was campaigning for the Labor chairmanship. "We were sitting in a cafe and he came over to shake our hands," Gurock recalled. "That's politics here, people go around shaking hands." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Playing with fire Sarkozy warns Iran it risks Israeli strike on nuke program. Our own desert island Israel tries to lure 'Big Brother' type U.S. reality TV series.

Read & React ANALYSIS / France elbows U.S. aside in Syria negotiations Responses: 32 Obama makes peace with Fox News while McCain shuns CNN Responses: 44 Giuliani: Obama backtracked on undivided Jerusalem Responses: 48 Biden: AIPAC doesn't speak for Israel, no matter what it insists Responses: 85 More Headlines 22:40 Nasrallah: We still seek fallen guerillas' bodies 01:39 Assad: We won't cut our ties with Hezbollah, despite Israel talks 22:01 IDF court jails Israeli Arab tracker for spying for Hezbollah 02:38 Kadima sources: Olmert undermining successor to stay in power for longer 01:25 Chabad envoy to Alaska: Palin staunch friend of Jews 22:41 Jerusalem police limit entry of Palestinians for Ramadan prayer 02:10 Education Ministry to ban 'Bible Lite' study booklet 13:52 ANALYSIS / France elbows U.S. aside in Syria negotiations 19:21 U.S. federal court revokes citizenship of former Nazi police officer 16:52 Court allows rightists to march through Israeli Arab town 04:55 New 'chameleon' uniforms meant to boost IDF performance in different environments 13:54 Sarkozy gives Assad letter from Noam Shalit to his son Gilad 19:26 Jerusalem residents claim victory over controversial real estate plan 13:53 Giuliani to GOP: Obama backtracked on undivided Jerusalem 01:35 Sarkozy warns Iran it risks Israeli strike on nuke program Previous Editions Select Day 04 sep 03 sep 02 sep 01 sep 31 aug 29 aug 28 aug 27 aug 26 aug 25 aug 24 aug 22 aug

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