Israeli General Election (2nd of March, 2020): Madness

[Tintrlvr]

FPP is a terrible system, so the question isn't why some countries don't have it, but why some countries still do have it.

Sure, but there's the obvious compromise of multi-member districts selected by PR. That keep the benefits of a PF system while still ensuring MKs can more specifically represent Haifa or Tel Aviv or where ever, as opposed to the country as a whole.

Israel is a really small country, though. Internally diverse, but small. So this is not a very meaningful concern, and the internal diversity actually makes it even less of a concern because inevitably the left-liberal politician will be from Tel Aviv (e.g.) and represent Tel Aviv as there are few left-liberals elsewhere, and polarization by ideology is much more important than polarization by geography.

[Tintrlvr]

It's a mistake by the Joint List to recommend Gantz, he's worse than Netanyahu when it comes to the peace plan.

It was the wish of the majority of the Palestinian-Israeli population . I’ll let them know they need to consult the brave keyboard warriors of America first next time

Don't even. TSA is Palestinian and has family in both "Israel proper" and the West Bank.

It's funny how I never hear you guys criticize pro-Israel American evangelicals like this.

It's a mistake by the Joint List to recommend Gantz, he's worse than Netanyahu when it comes to the peace plan.

Gantz is just the lesser evil and the only alternative to the establishment of a full apartheid ethno-estate by the Israeli hard right. If the Joint List does not recommend this centre-right zionist, their MKs will render useless and irrelevant. Gantz is bad, but the alternative is abominable. There are not good choices in Israeli politics, face it

Leave if you're not gonna contribute anything interesting/constructive 🤷🏻‍♂️

Yeah. He should strive to be the amazing, insightful poster that you are.

I think I voiced my strong dislike of the Jewish Right in America on more than one occasion, the same applies to the Palestinian expats who are quite similar in being more “radical”. It’s always easier to be radical when you don’t live through the ramifications.

The JL has the highest turnout ever because their public wanted them to help Gantz oust Bibi. I think they understand their needs better than our vigilantes here

Young Palestinians abroad abroad sometimes like to LARP a kind of ideological and electric intifada as a way of getting in touch with their roots. Here in Israel (and Palestine) we have no such thoroughly American luxury. We have to find a way to carve out opportunities and lives for our families that are hopeful, prosperous, and humane. The carnival-barking politics of hate Bibi and the right have championed makes that much more difficult. So even if we have to stomach an imperfect leader like Gantz to get Netanyahu out, then absolutely we ahould do it. Being prissy about ideology is simply not an option for Arabs (or Jews) living with the consequences of politics here. Good for the Joint List integrating that reality.

I'll add one thing to this discussion. It's not unique to the Palestinian expat/migrant community to pursue the political goal above all else, even though those on the ground may not even desire said political goal. Every expat/migrant group of considerable size ends up focusing solely on this political goal. The realities of life back home that concern those on the ground no longer apply to them, instead, these realities become part of their domestic political agenda. These groups therefore have the luxury of ideological purity in its different forms. This trend can be easily seen in some of histories most famous migrant/expat communities. For example, the Russian Settlement in 19th century Switzerland argued about what kind of revolution should occur and how it should be done. Everyone except for the most loyal ignored these expats because the day-today struggle for better wages, land, working conditions, and dignity was more important. Another example can be seen in 20th century US, with the various migrant groups who pushed US policy towards adopting their political views of the homeland. The Cubans want regime change in Cuba, no matter the consequences. The Vietnamese wanted retribution and ideally regime change in Vietnam, no matter the consequences. The Irish wanted the British out of Northern Ireland and supported Sinn Fein, no matter the nuance.

It's just how these things tend to go when you are removed from the immediate people on the ground.

The IRA historically getting most of its funding from Americans sometimes multiple generations removed from the ancestors who immigrated from Ireland was what sprang to mind immediately.