The winning formula to become Israel’s next prime minister

With elections not that far off, Israelis have a difficult choice to make in choosing their next government. Difficult, because whoever takes the reins of the country will have to hit the perfect balance between hawkishness, when it comes to our defense and open-mindedness, when it comes to governing a very widely diverse group of people.

That combination is rare, but it is what most Israelis hope to get. In addition to making sure that Iran and her proxies cease to be an existential threat to Israel, there are a multitude of problems which have to be solved by our next coalition.

Kicking the can down the road is no longer an option. So here is the winning formula which, if followed, could succeed where this last government has failed:

• Put an end to the ill-conceived exemption of Haredi men to serve in the military. Strong and feisty enough to fight our police, block traffic and disrupt the country’s operations, the energy and resolve of these thousands of men were never more needed than now, as Israel faces an existential threat while lacking the manpower to put an end to it. These young people owe a large debt of gratitude and undying loyalty to the nation that has funded them since their birth!

• Come to the realization that Israel is a multi-cultural tapestry of Jews and minorities, all of whom do not neatly fit into the Orthodox Jewish identity. Nonetheless, they comprise the citizens and residents who are loyal to the State. Grant them the freedom of choice to live as they desire.

• Open the gates to all Jews who wish to make Aliyah, regardless of their faith.  If they were born Jewish, they remain part of the ethnic tribe of our people. At a time when vicious antisemitic attacks are being waged against all Jews, regardless of what they believe, the door should not be closed to anyone born of a Jewish mother, father or grandparent – per the 1950 Law of Return. To doom them to persecution or even death would make us no better than the nations that turned away shiploads of Jews, resulting in meeting their demise.

• Don’t be taken in by international naysayers who want to convince you that the only way to gain the world’s approval is to compromise on principles that will only weaken our defenses and leave us vulnerable to attack. We can never do enough to earn their favor, so why try at our expense?

• All three branches of our governance (government coalition, Knesset and the judiciary) must retain their independence one from another, free to make their own decisions with no undue influence from the others. The same must be true about our police departments which are not the sole possession of one party or one political figure.

• Finally create our own constitution, which will serve as an effective tool against corruption, as laws are more specifically laid out and defined, making it harder to bend the rules. 

• Put an end to government stipends allotted to the religious parties, always decided upon by special interest political groups only focused on helping their particular constituencies.  

• Put an end to the appointment of ministers, chosen by their friends in power as well as forbidding those with criminal records to hold a government position. 

• Improve our educational system which, at the moment, does not even meet the minimal standards of preparing our children for university entrance. An enormous percentage of Israeli students are seriously lagging behind in math and English skills.

• Improve our public transportation system which remains insufficient for daily commuters due to overcrowding and constant delays. Create incentives for more bus drivers, and establish bus and train service to the popular resort town of Eilat. 

• Make tough decisions concerning Arab on Arab crime, including expulsion from Israel for repeat offenders.

Of course, this is not an exhaustive list of all that needs to be repaired in the State of Israel, but many, if not all of the above, have constituted ongoing infractions which no one has been willing to take on with any real seriousness.

Party members need to grow a spine, when their leader fails to represent the principles upon which they were elected. Only then, can they garner the respect of the Israeli public. Sadly, we watched even more moderate members of this last coalition cave into the demands of the ultra- religious who chose to govern right of right.  

Rather than mustering the courage to go against the prevailing tide of extremists, they sat quietly while efforts were made to change the character of the country, forcing it to align with only one official religious expression. Civil marriage or those performed by non-Orthodox rabbis still go unrecognized by the State. 

Why aren’t those decisions left to the individual? Who decided that Israel should be a monolithic nation, bathed in uniformity, adverse to plurality? Given the many positions held by renown rabbis, throughout the ages, why should a modern state take on one persuasion or viewpoint?

That is part of the reason that Jews were despised and rejected throughout their 2,000-year dispersion, because they thought differently than the others. Diversity of opinion has been our strength, allowing us to see things in ways that others couldn’t. It has facilitated us in creating solutions and technology which has advanced all mankind. So why can’t we apply those same principles to our way of life?

What seems to be lacking the most is our corporate regard for one another and the ability to put aside our own need for power, control and financial advantage. Sadly, our political figures have demonstrated that all too often. And that’s the reason the Israeli public is longing for selfless leaders who are willing to put their personal ambitions last while showing true service.

Hard-working Israelis deserve a change from the status quo, and that means a departure from the usual politician who’s only in it for personal gain? 

It would be refreshing to have a government willing to serve every Israeli, regardless of their political and religious affiliation? In fact, that should be the desire of each political party. If someone can demonstrate that they are ready to be that change, they should begin to make that clear at this early juncture.

Because that pledge might be their winning ticket!