Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., November 12, 2008 Cheshvan 14, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:26 (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 U.S. election Travel Week's End Anglo File

New parties appeal to new generation of voters: 'Vote your age' By Noah Kosharek Tags: Jerusalem, Haifa, Tel Aviv  The local elections campaign, which ends today, saw the arrival of a relatively new player in municipal politics - parties for the younger generation. The new municipal parties - which sprouted up in Tel Aviv , Jerusalem and Haifa, to name Israel's three largest cities - comprised city hall candidates in their 20s and 30s, who courted voters of the same age. At the top of their agenda are affordable housing solutions, nightclub curfews, transportation, employment and education. Another endemic sign of the "young parties" is their general lack of funding. Advertisement Young people's municipal lists vied for constituents in Herzliya, Yavne, Rishon Letzion, Kiryat Shmona, Nes Tziona, Rehovot Ramat Gan, Kiryat Gat, Kiryat Bialik, Kiryat Ata, Netanya and Be'er Sheva. Petah Tikva also has a party for the younger generation, which is a bit of an unusual story; the list actually joined forces with the Pensioners party's local branch. The young-old alliance is called "Gil Tzair" - "Young Age." In fact, the previous local elections campaign also had several young people's parties. "Last time around, I campaigned for seven different parties for young people, and they all made it into city council," Eitan Hoz, 37, recalls. Hoz was elected a decade ago to preside as a council member and replacement to the mayor after heading the young people's party, "Tutim." ("Strawberries," for which Ramat Hasharon is famous.) Hoz says that the "young" wave has grown tremendously since he was elected. "It's coming from frustration that's connected to problems that have to do with housing and the lack of a night-life scene," he explains. At the tender age of 22, Maya Katz is heading "Tzeirim Neto" ("Young People Net") in Herzliya. "We decided to form this party, because we felt as though the young people here were being pushed aside," she explains. "The feeling we got is that many young people are now leaving Herzliya for other cities." Ofer Berkowitz, who heads the "Hit'orerut Yerushalmim" list ("Jerusalemites' Awakening") says that his platform includes creating incentives designed to keep young artists from leaving for other, perhaps greener, pastures. Like virtually all the young people's municipal party heads, Berkowitz says that the housing problem is his number-one concern. Additionally, Berkowitz says he would invest more in "strengthening the youth movement." The Haifa youth party identifies "desertion" as its main problem. "Our agenda includes efforts to stop young people from leaving the north and getting them to stay," says Shai Abuchatzeira, 28, who heads "Tzeirei Haifa" ("Haifa's Young"). Related articles: Jerusalem, so low It's not up to them VIDEO / Women mayoral candidates from Arab, Haredi sectors challenge a male domain Bookmark to del.icio.us   No light at the end Amira Hass / Powerless in Gaza, residents rely on the tunnels. Offensive strikes Report: U.S. secretly attacked dozens of Mideast targets since 2004.   1.   Vote for inexperience? you get what you vote for 09:05  |  Margie 11/11/08

Read & React Aluf Benn: No leader before Olmert explicitly urged return to '67 borders Responses: 173 Nehemia Shtrasler: We shouldn't copy Obama, he should copy us Responses: 32 Report: Hamas says its officials met Obama aides before U.S. election Responses: 162 Moshe Arens: History may judge Bush, Iraq war, very differently Responses: 57 Israel renews fuel deliveries to Gaza, after week-long halt Responses: 94 U.S. Jews to Mormons: Stop baptizing Holocaust victims Responses: 114 More Headlines 00:54 Poll: Secular hopeful Nir Barkat leading in Jerusalem mayoral race 22:05 Nasrallah: Israeli hands that attack Lebanon will be severed 00:57 Abbas says Israel has proposed Jerusalem concessions in the past 19:22 Netanyahu will seek alternative to current peace talks if elected 00:05 Arafat's nephew insists Israel poisoned the late Palestinian leader 15:51 Blair's bodyguard accidentally fires gun at Ben Gurion airport 20:26 Sweden court: Civil servant unlawfully demoted for pro-Israel views 15:58 Report: Hamas says its officials met Obama aides before U.S. election 20:44 IDF files harsh indictments against officers involved in Golan training accident 10:09 Livni distances herself from Olmert comments on '67 borders 01:46 ANALYSIS / No leader before Olmert has explicitly called for return to '67 borders 15:59 UN: Gaza food aid to halt if Israel keeps crossings closed 08:28 Obama, and the first Arab prime minister of Israel 18:21 U.S. Jewish group to Mormons: Stop baptizing Holocaust victims Previous Editions Select Day 11 nov 10 nov 09 nov 07 nov 06 nov 05 nov 04 nov 03 nov 02 nov 31 oct 30 oct 29 oct

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