Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., February 21, 2008 Adar1 15, 5768 | | Israel Time: 10:41 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Green Party members at a rally. (Alon Ron) Last update - 05:53 21/02/2008 Green Party hopes to reach Knesset by running in local elections By Zafrir Rinat, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: knesset, israel, green party  Is it possible to translate the wave of environmental awareness that is sweeping the world - and Israel too - into political power? The Green Party is convinced that this is the case and is preparing accordingly. The aim is to create the most powerful party in local authorities, and for the first time harness sufficient support in national elections to send its representatives to the Knesset. The party, headed by deputy mayor of Tel Aviv Peer Wisner, recently began setting up new branches in anticipation of the municipal elections that will be held in nine months. Unlike the past, this will not be a coalition of various political parties, but branches belonging to the Greens and who will operate under an environmental-social platform. To date, 14 branches have been set up, and a similar figure is in the process of being established in cities like Jerusalem, Afula, Beer Sheva and Eilat. The person coordinating the municipal effort is Michael Roeh, former deputy mayor of Tel Aviv representing Meretz, and now a businessman. Roeh travels between local authorities and assists in setting up new branches of Greens and organizing a core group of activists. In some of the bigger cities, like Ramat Gan and Haifa, the Greens will run with candidates for mayor, and there is a good chance that Wisner will compete for the post of Tel Aviv mayor. Wisner said that the party is holding talks with mayors who ran for their post without party support, so that they may consider joining the party he heads. Advertisement "The goal is to have 50 branches and to place at least a third of the council members in most of the local authorities where we will run," Roeh says. "It is possible because we are proposing an agenda that is not only environmental but also deals with social justice, with democratization of the governing process and combating corruption. Another element that is in our favor is that the big parties have nearly lost all interest in local elections," Roeh adds. Following "a cross-section analysis of the vote for the Knesset, we focused on establishing branches in cities where there was considerable support for us" during the previous elections, says Wisner. One of the dominant figures in local politics who joined the Greens is Shmuel Gelbhert, deputy mayor of Haifa. He tops the list of candidates on behalf of the Greens. "In the past I thought that there was no need for a Green party because of the political-security agenda priorities of Israel, and I also had differences with Wisner," he said. "But of late I changed my mind following the change in environmental awareness in Israel and the world, and I feel that the public is now more willing to deal with environmental issues. My relationship with Wisner improved, and so we decided to put together an [election] list that will be part of the Green party." In Ramat Gan, the Green election list is headed by Dr. Avi Lilian, a veterinarian who established the Magen David Yarok college for para-veterinary studies. "There is a great deal of excitement, and it is quite difficult for us to absorb all those activists who want to join us," he said. "From our point of view, it will be a major achievement if we get four or five members on the local council," Lilian said. "I believe that we have a chance in the election for mayor against the current mayor, Zvi Bar, otherwise I would not have joined this effort." Lilian says that the party will focus on improving environmental education in Ramat Gan, and contributing to green areas in the city and preventing air pollution. He also wants to push for minibuses powered by electricity "instead of the bus lines that pollute and the subway that is too expensive." Related articles: Supreme Court tells Green Party to keep its old name Green unseen in parties' election PR Green issues, but not parties, find a place in the election campaign Bookmark to del.icio.us   Land of milk and honey Israeli model Bar Refaeli poses for Sports Illustrated's swimsuit edition. Finding fault Shas MK blames gays for recent earthquakes in the region.   1.   Green party faithful... kind of 10:01  |  EJ 21/02/08

Today Online Israel fears Europe will break boycott of Hamas Responses: 60 Report: U.K. hid reference to Israel on Iraq weapons dossier Responses: 194 Shmuel Rosner: What the U.S. really wants is a total Gaza invasion Responses: 9 I. Harel: Israeli Arabs creating de facto state within Israel's borders Responses: 1 Nadav Shragai: The lies used to justify the division of Jerusalem Responses: 34 Rosner's Domain What America wants from an operation in Gaza The only F-word people should be afraid of is fanaticism Are Palestinians like Kosovars? (WTR) Poll: Is it important to have an Israeli-Palestinian agreement by the end of 2008? The row over Obama's stance on Israel is a dispute between Jews More Headlines 10:34 Israel fears Europe will break boycott of Hamas 09:29 Report: U.K. gov't hid reference to Israel on Iraq weapons dossier 10:36 Peace Now: Israel denies Area C Palestinians building permits 08:56 U.S. victims of Palestinian terror await gov't stance on compensation 06:10 ANALYSIS: The West Bank should be the next Kosovo 23:28 Russian-Israeli tycoon: Russian aliyah absorption unsuccessful 08:50 Haifa U. to punish students for memorial of October 2000 riots 09:02 High Court hears plea against parole of Danny Katz's murderers 05:53 Green Party hopes to reach Knesset by running in local elections 06:20 High hopes for rain disappoint in the north Previous Editions Select Day 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb 07 feb

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