- Moderator
- #2,521
I came across this interesting interview of young Israeli’s from a broad cultural spectrum. I found enlightening, refreshing and not what you typically hear. I know Haaretz has a paywall but you can get a certain number of free reads weekly (I do not subscribe but can get free articles). It is worth the read imo.
The questions asked were:
How do you identify politically (right, left or center)?
How do you identify religiously, if at all?
Who did you vote for in the two rounds of elections in 2019?
Who do you plan to vote for in the third round on March 2?
Did you vote for the same party as your parents?
Have you attended any demonstration in the past year – and if so, for or against what?
Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
Do you see your future in Israel?
How do you most identify?
What do you consider to be the most burning political or social issue facing Israel today?
Do you believe Israel has a special obligation to take in refugees and asylum seekers?
Do you believe public buses should operate in Israel on Shabbat?
Do you believe members of the LGBTQ community deserve full rights?
Do you support a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – in other words, the establishment of an independent Palestinian state next to Israel?
Do you support Israeli annexation of the West Bank?
Are you familiar with the nation-state law, and if so, what’s your position on it?
It is impossible to attach all the responses, so I will only do so for one question: What do you consider to be the most burning political or social issue facing Israel today?
The fact that we’re having so many elections, although maybe that’s not so much of an issue anymore. So I guess I’d say it’s all the divisions in society that bother me most.
I’d say the lack of civility in political discourse and the threat to the rule of law. We’ve always taken pride in being the only democracy in the region, and the rule of law was once considered the holy of holies in this country. But these days, I have a harder and harder time explaining how Israel is different from other regimes in the area
The high cost-of-living, especially housing prices. I have less interest in politics because of the whole mess we’re in with this government.
For me, there are two. One is the growing racism in the country – against Ethiopians, against Arabs and against Mizrahi Jews. The other is the discrimination against those who are not considered as Jewish as I am. I have a friend like that, whose mom isn’t Jewish, and as a result,he doesn’t get the same benefits as me.
As I see it, there are three big issues. One, whether we like it or not, security will always be a top issue on the national agenda. Two, our health and welfare systems are in great need of improvement. And three – and this is something that has become particularly obvious in the past year – are the divisions among different groups in Israeli society. In many cases, the problem is that these groups don’t know each other, and something has to be done about that.
What really bothers me is the climate crisis, but it’s not an Israeli problem specifically. I’m also really troubled by the fact that there’s no functioning government in the country and that our prime minister has been indicted.
Widening socioeconomic gaps.
Getting a government elected that will show some respect for all the different groups in society.
It seems to change every month, but in general I’d say it’s the growing socioeconomic gaps. It bothers me that that there are so many children in this country who don’t have equal opportunities.
Violence in the Arab community.