Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., September 11, 2008 Elul 11, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:16 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Who needs it? By Avirama Golan Tags: democracy, amram mitzna  An unwritten law divides central Israel from the periphery: The smaller the town, the larger and more numerous are the campaign signs for local elections. Conversely, the more critical the elections, the more apathetic the residents - and their faith in the power of politics to affect reality is minimal. "We also deserve our own Mitzna," a Sderot resident said this week, referring to Yeruham mayor and former Labor chairman Amram Mitzna. The other participants at the parlor meeting expressed their agreement, and he added that he didn't care if the local government was replaced by one appointed by the Interior Ministry. The meeting took place in a week when the High Court of Justice rejected a petition by Yeruham residents and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel against allowing Mitzna to continue serving as appointed mayor. Advertisement "Who needs democracy?" the Sderot resident asked. "What have we gotten out of it?" One can understand the desperate citizen, especially if he has spoken to Yeruham residents happy with Mitzna's conduct, and if he has heard Mitzna's unfortunate statement that Yeruham is "not ready for a democratic process." But even those paying no attention to the discussion about democracy would do well to think about what will happen the day after Mitzna finishes his term in Yeruham. Most of the local governments appointed by the Interior Ministry since 1955 have improved those cities for the short term - two years, to be precise. In the worst cases, the condition of the cities became far worse. That's what happened in Lod and Bnei Brak, a city that serves to prove the problematic nature of local government that is appointed rather than elected. In June 1995, then-interior minister David Libai appointed former deputy Jerusalem mayor Amos Mar-Haim as head of the committee appointed to run Bnei Brak, which had incurred a serious deficit. Mar-Haim had Libai's full backing, but the interior minister had taken on the post after a brief stint by Uzi Baram, and was himself replaced a month later by Ehud Barak. Mar-Haim used all his skills and his contacts, but was not up to the task of healing Bnei Brak's deep flaws. The rabbis and non-profit organizations continued trying to run the city in accordance with the needs of their institutions, to the detriment of the residents. It was only two years later, when Mordechai Karlitz, a candidate agreed upon by all sides, including the rabbis, was elected in a democratic process that city hall actually began to run the city. It cut off the electricity of yeshivas that were linked to the grid illegally, collected taxes, improved mass transit, made the city look nicer, and balanced the budget. A similar revolution took place in other cities the national government despaired of running - Netivot, Ashdod, Holon, and now Bat Yam - after a failed mayor was replaced by a successful one. It is legitimate for the Interior Ministry to take over failed municipalities in emergency situations, but in recent years (particularly since the 2004 Economic Arrangements Law), interior ministers have been overly ready to employ this mechanism while strangling local governments and preventing them from developing independently. The result is that the desperate citizens prefer to have Big Brother run their lives. The fact that they have lost their faith in democracy is a serious thing, but what's even worse is their loss of faith in themselves and their local leaders. Bookmark to del.icio.us   'I didn't kill Rose' Ronny Ron, grandfather of missing 4-year-old, recants his confession. Diplomatic incident Olympic medalist Shahar Zubari stirs controversy, calling Chinese 'shits'.

Read & React VIDEO / Israeli scientists join experiment to break open 'Big Bang' Responses: 95 Iran demands UN response to 'threats' by Israel to kidnap Ahmadinejad Responses: 89 Report: Hamas warns it will nab more soldiers if IDF tries to rescue Shalit Responses: 37 More Headlines 00:50 2 IAF pilots killed in Jezreel Valley crash 01:05 Barak: We've foiled 2 attacks against Israelis abroad 23:00 Defense official: Don't expect deal on Shalit in near future 01:17 Israeli scientist: 'Big Bang' experiment going better than expected 22:57 Rights group: Israel forcing Palestinians in West Bank back to Gaza 22:45 Iranian Deputy FM: Iran keen to resume nuclear talks 02:11 Sarkozy's son and Jewish heiress tie the knot 20:07 IAEA chief El Baradei won't seek fourth term as UN nuclear watchdog head 01:55 Israel's UN ambassador: It is absurd for Iran to preach morality 21:25 Iraqi MP makes opening remarks at anti-terror conference in Herzliya 19:52 AG says won`t indict Lieberman for calling for execution of Arab MKs 17:44 Pentagon weighs selling missile defense shield to UAE 19:34 VIDEO / Gaydamak likely to surrender Jerusalem mayoral race to Deri 18:45 Iran demands UN response to Israeli 'threats' to kidnap Ahmadinejad Previous Editions Select Day 10 sep 09 sep 08 sep 07 sep 05 sep 04 sep 03 sep 02 sep 01 sep 31 aug 29 aug 28 aug

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved