Despair must not sneak into the hearts of many Israel • The resilience of a people depends on the degree to which its sons and daughters believe in their ability to work together • The President of the State in a special column
Vote at the polls for the isolated
Photo:
Yossi Zeliger
Election morning mornings usually flood me with special excitement.
The sight of the blue ballot boxes on which the emblem of the State of Israel is stamped reminds me of distant days, my childhood days when we were not allowed to wave the Israeli flag.
I was only nine years old when the greatest and most precious miracle that befell our people in modern times took place - the establishment of the Jewish and democratic state and the renewal of our sovereignty in the Land of Israel.
We were like dreamers.
And here today, the citizens of Israel are gaining access to the gates of the polling stations, and to exercise their democratic right to elect their representatives in the Knesset.
I will admit that today this festive excitement is mixed within me with feelings of worry and apprehension.
Going to the polls for the fourth time in less than two years, following the political crisis that befalls us, is not festive for any of us.
The dire consequences of this situation do not stem only from the impairment of the state's ability to provide budgets, and to activate the essential services it provides to its citizens in the fields of health, education, employment and welfare - areas that seem more critical today than ever.
The current situation even erodes, in an unprecedented way, the trust of the people in the democratic institutions - in the Knesset, in the government, in the parties.
But the feeling of despair that threatens to sneak into the hearts of many Israelis and Israelis must not buy a place for her there.
The resilience of a people depends on the extent to which its sons and daughters believe in their ability to work together, and in their willingness to do so.
And although our representatives in the Knesset have not yet succeeded in this important task over the past two years, the days of the Corona crisis have shown that on the ground, the people of Israel can meet this challenge.
In the hospitals, at the police checkpoints, in the charity and aid organizations, Israeli men and women from all groups and from all the tribes worked together.
Shoulder to shoulder.
When I toured our country over the past year, and saw the commitment of Israelis and Israelis to the joint effort, out of determination, optimism and a great sense of mission, I was filled with deep hope, sincere faith that we have the power to join forces and continue to build and develop our Jewish and democratic state.
With this hope we, all of us, must approach and vote in the ballots of the day.
With this hope, we must demand that our elected representatives find the way to a politics of compromises and connections, a politics committed to a path of statehood, of partnership, and respect for the entire Israeli public and its representatives.
Citizenship and citizens of Israel, do not allow despair to take its place.
This is impact time.
Whatever your position may be, the country you desire, and the path to striving for its realization, only in your hands.
Go out and vote - full of hope and pride.