ISRAEL ELECTION “My First Time”

By Michael Sierra

It is said that there is always a first time. And the first few times it is also said that they are special: the first love, the first kiss, the first child, the first word. In this election I voted for the first time!
It really is not exactly the first time: I already voted for the municipal elections, because Israel can take part at the age of 17 years. But this time is the first time that I voted in the elections for Israel Parliament.

It is not my intention to make these lines electioneering. Instead I simply share my feelings: the thrill of the first time, the pride of being one of the Israeli 5883365 voting rights, and the great responsibility of which I am invested.
That voting is a right that is the basis of democracy, and is particularly significant in the Middle East, where Israel is the only state where you can exercise complete freedom.
To do irony I could even say that the only privilege of the citizens of the Arab countries is the possibility, so to say, to predict the future, to predict the election results.

I am also aware of the fact that my vote will affect the fate of Israelis living abroad, who are not allowed to vote by post. Among them there are also my friends: students abroad for a short period, workers, travelers on business or tourism.
The Israeli citizens living abroad are several thousand people, whose votes would correspond to a number of seats, so that the debate on the subject in Israel was large.

But I also feel that my vote, perhaps unknowingly, will have an impact on the fate of all the Jews of the diaspora, here between my family in Italy, and friends and acquaintances. Although some say that they do not feel represented by Israel – and there are those who even refuses to recognize or take sides publicly against the decisions of his government – they are still influenced by its policy, from what takes place and the decisions that are taken.

I could talk at length about my views on economic or legislative but also in the general election campaign in my opinion devoid of content which often parties did nothing but express contempt for the rival, in particular the two largest, Likud and the Zionist Union.
However, I would rather conclude with a positive thought, telling a program the association Dor Dor entitled “Kol Hadorot”. The title contains a pun given the ambiguity of the term “kol”, and therefore can mean either “all generations” is “the voice of generations.” Within this program, attended by myself and many of my friends, young boys help older people to say the “Kalpi,” that is to make use of their right to vote. This program does not have a political purpose, young people do not show up wearing T-shirts with slogans of political parties, but the purpose purely social allow these people to exercise their right.

For me, these elections are really a special event and an unforgettable first time . After the recent visit of the singer Gianni Morandi in Israel, to always use a metaphor taken from the Italian music, my heart sings “vote, oh oh!”.
I hope that these elections despite the discussions, conflicts and intrigues of the campaign election, keep the people united, not that we forget the values that unite us, our social duty and above all the need to act in person.