Editor's notes: Why won't Israel give its 100,000 olim a real political voice? -comment
Anglo olim built Israel, defended it, and explained it to the world. However, they have no political power in the Knesset, which is a real failure.
On Sunday, at the President's Residence in Jerusalem, Isaac Herzog welcomed a family from New York – Jeffrey and Atara Douglas and their three children. This arrival marked the 100,000th North American immigrant brought to Israel by Nefesh B'Nefesh since 2002. Despite this remarkable number, there was no elected representative for this community in the room where the President, the aliyah and integration minister, and the founders of the organization were present. This absence highlights the lack of political representation for Anglo Olim in the Knesset.
The Likud party, which has governed Israel for most of the 20th century, holds a primary every year that sets the list of candidates. Somewhere on that list, at number 43, is a slot reserved for a new immigrant. Likud is currently polling at 23 or 24 seats. While some may view this number as an insult, it points to a deeper issue.
Every immigrant community that has taken power in Israel has arrived angry and built their political power by addressing their grievances. For example, Jews from Morocco, Iraq, and Yemen arrived in the 1950s, faced humiliation, but formed the Shas party and gained seven seats within a few years.
In contrast, Anglo Olim are financially established, educated, and established in various sectors. They have not produced a political party or faction in the Knesset. The reason for this lies in the way Israeli politics works – political power is built by people who come to Israel running from something, not by those who already have it.
Israel gives Anglo Olim jobs and opportunities, but it does not give them a seat at the table. The professional class of Anglo Olim is employed to explain Israel to others, not to hold political power.
This situation is about to change as the new generation of Anglo Olim arrives, bringing an account of grievances and a desire for representation. The upcoming Likud primary will set the list of candidates, and it is expected that a slot reserved for an immigrant will be filled. For the first time, Anglo Olim will have a grievance to settle in Israeli politics, and Israeli politicians may need to address the expectations of this new constituency.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
