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Last update - 02:29 06/02/2009 I'm voting Meretz By Amos Schocken Tags: israel news, israel elections  Meretz's position during the war in the south is no reason not to vote for it. If anything, it's a badge of honor for the party and its leaders, another one of many reasons to vote for the party in the upcoming elections. "The State of Israel has the right and the duty to see to the welfare and the security of its citizens," said party head Haim Oron during the special Knesset debate two days after the outset of the military operation. "This does not mean use of all available force, or justification of every action carried out in the past 48 hours," he continued. Meretz's opposition to the ground operation was immediate and vigorous, and stated that "the Lebanese quagmire will be considered shallow compared to the anticipated quagmire in Gaza. A ground operation and entry into Gaza contradict a basic Israeli interest." Advertisement Meretz could have tried to find favor in the eyes of its electorate and express opposition to any military operation. But in the complicated situation of prolonged firing into Israeli territory by Hamas, Meretz did not abandon the residents of the south, even if they are not its natural electorate, and its stance, like the situation, was complex. For its responsible and balanced behavior Meretz is now paying a high price, although this behavior should actually have been rewarded by a large number of votes. But the voting in next week's elections cannot be based solely on a war in whose conduct Meretz - as opposed to Kadima and Labor - was not involved. The voting must also deal with the diplomatic horizon, human and civil rights, education, health, the environment and the structure of Israel's constitutional regime. We can regret the fact that in all these spheres, without exception, Meretz may be the only place to turn. The last Knesset was characterized by an attempt to overturn Israel's constitutional achievements and an undermining of the principle of the rule of law. Meretz's five MKs, along with a small number of others, mostly from Labor, defended the law enforcement system and the Supreme Court from unbridled attacks by the government. Meretz initiated the law prohibiting human trafficking, which makes it possible to take action against those who traffic in women as well as aiding migrant workers and preventing trade in human organs. It expanded eligibility for public housing; increased legal aid to the poor; strengthened the Israel Consumer Council; and in a first reading passed legislation to expand the basket of state-subsidized health services, in opposition to the government's position. All this in addition to a Sisyphean struggle against legislation that undermines human rights, such as the "Shai Dromi law" that allows householders to kill a burglar even when human life is not in danger, and the amendment to the Citizenship Law that prevents Palestinians who marry Israelis from living in Israeli territory. In addition to the substantial amount of legislation, which is difficult to promote from the opposition benches, Meretz MKs acted together, alongside a few other MKs, to protect refugees from Sudan and grant them rights. Meretz was the only party that spoke out clearly to protest ongoing harm to Israel's homosexual community and supported the Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem. And if all that were not sufficient, Meretz has remained the only possible way to vote because it was the only party to declare that it would not join a coalition with Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu. After Lieberman, with the support of Kadima and Labor, sought the racist and antidemocratic exclusion of the Arab parties, he is clearly a real threat to anyone for whom a Jewish and democratic State of Israel is important. Labor chairman Ehud Barak, who wants to lead the peace camp, does not rule out sitting in the same coalition with someone who wants to abrogate the citizenship of Israeli Arabs. Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni, who aspires to be prime minister, will not be able to fulfill her wish without bringing in Yisrael Beiteinu. Any vote for a party other than Meretz in effect means appointing someone who constitutes a genuine threat to Israeli society as a "senior minister" - as Likud chairman Benjamin Netanyahu promised. The war in the south may be a problem from the past. Lieberman is definitely the black stain of the future. I'm voting Meretz. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Words of hope Hamas leader Zahar: Final word on Israel truce proposal soon. Iran talks Biden: U.S. will to talk to Iran and take action if necessary.   1.   Meretz 05:15  |  zeld 06/02/09   2.   Why I would also vote Meretz although I fully supported the war 09:20  |  AA 06/02/09   3.   Meretz is against Israeli sovereignty 14:52  |  Herbert Kaine 06/02/09   4.   Hahaha. That was funny. Shocken=Bad for Israel 21:34  |  Moish 07/02/09   5.   Schocken - No Big Surprise ( Israelis, Please Do the Opposite) 23:41  |  Tod Zuckerman 07/02/09   6.   "Not its natural electorate" 23:42  |  Realist 07/02/09   7.   Why I would vote for meretz 00:54  |  Arie 08/02/09   8.   vote Netanyahu....or be an idiot 01:35  |  Daniel 08/02/09   9.   It`s sad that foreign reporters quote Haaretz 04:38  |  Maya 08/02/09   10.   ALL OF ISRAEL IS VOTING RIGHT WING - AGAINST DEFEATISM 04:45  |  Kayla 08/02/09   11.   vote Netanyahu...and be an idiot 08:56  |  Yaar 08/02/09   12.   Meretz failed to Speak Out 11:50  |  Geoff 08/02/09

Read & React Report: Israel to free Barghouti as part of Shalit deal Responses: 49 Gideon Levy: Rise of Lieberman proves racism now an accepted Israeli value Responses: 9 Shas' Rabbi Yosef: Voting for Lieberman gives strength to Satan Responses: 41 Bradley Burston: Can Netanyahu be stopped? Can Lieberman? Send response Zvi Bar'el: Will next PM be able to avoid attacking Iran? Responses: 4 More Headlines 12:32 Olmert blasts 'damaging' reports on Shalit, in veiled attack on Barak 10:58 Report: Israel to free Marwan Barghouti as part of Shalit deal 12:25 U.S. Jew 'stabbed in the face by Palestinians in Jerusalem' 12:05 Elections 2009 / Lieberman predicts he'll win 30 seats next time around 09:33 ANALYSIS / Hamas rift holding up approval of Gilad Shalit deal 11:33 Israel Election Guide: Can Netanyahu be stopped? Can Lieberman? 09:34 Elections 2009 / Likud fears last-minute loss to Kadima 11:40 U.S. Writers Guild names Israeli war film 'Waltz with Bashir' best documentary 11:39 The pro-marijuana Holocaust survivors party is the hottest match-up 08:28 Qassam strikes Negev as talks on Gaza truce progress 06:46 Ex-UNRWA official blasts agency for politicizing Palestinian refugee issue 01:47 Shas' Rabbi Yosef: Voting for Lieberman gives strength to Satan 04:04 To the Arab world, every Israeli candidate is the same 04:10 Kadima takes last-ditch aim at Netanyahu as Livni seeks narrow win 08:07 IDF rabbinate rapped for booklet advocating cruelty in Gaza war 08:05 Legal official: Evidence against Olmert in appointments probe strengthens 04:34 Pro-Israel Swedish government worker fired for second time 09:27 UN, Hamas meet to discuss stolen Gaza aid Previous Editions Select Day 06 feb 05 feb 04 feb 03 feb 02 feb 01 feb 30 jan 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 26 jan 25 jan

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