The late Ilan Gilon was for me much more than a politician that I supported, he was a spiritual father, a teacher, a guide, a leader, a family. I, as someone who passed his youth and maturity to his side and by his side, it pained me to read the words of my father in Raleigh on the pages of this newspaper - "Meretz Lowering the red flag."
Meretz since its founding is a party that unites under one banner a broad worldview based on the demand for social justice, human rights and equality, with the understanding that these are universal values.
For the disabled, the working people, the sick - everyone deserves an equal opportunity for self-fulfillment and a fair and dignified existence.
Jews or Arabs, straight or LGBT, Ashkenazi or Mizrahi - no matter who you are or where you came from, you deserve equal opportunity and a real welfare state that cares for you.
The difference between the capitalist view and our socialist view is simple: capitalism advocates a brutal jungle where the strong survive, a kind of "Hunger Games economic version".
The rich will have plenty, and the poor will be oppressed more and more.
They want to enrich themselves, we - the social democrats - want to use the money that the workers produce, so that everyone is given the opportunity for a good and happy life.
We believe that this is the responsibility of the state, these are the funds that the citizens pay.
Meretz presents a comprehensive worldview, based on the demand for equal rights, concern for a just economy within Israel, separation between us and the Palestinians, who have the right to self-determination in their own country, and the separation of religion from the state, so that every citizen can live their lives according to their faith without state interference.
And in the words of the late Ilan Gilon - the three divisions: the division of wealth, the division of the land and the division of religion from the state.
The revolution we tried to lead in Meretz was to put the economic-social agenda at the top of the pyramid, others believed that political affairs and human rights should be at the center, and other groups wanted to put the civil agenda at the center.
Although the revolution is not yet complete, it is hard to mistake the influence of the Red Road in Meretz.
Meretz's social-democratic way is embedded within the party and is greater than any personal matter.
This is the reason why Meretz leads and has led in social and economic action both in public housing, both in disability allowances and in the current government, starting with the phase of the coalition agreements (in which the HM represented Meretz), in which we demanded and received significant additions to the health budget, which were stipulated in the basis of the budget. Also during the tenure of the Minister of Health Horowitz, who strengthened the public health system with budgets and standards, with the right to dental treatment for every citizen over the age of 72 through the health insurance fund, strengthened the mental health system, which was in a difficult situation, and more.
All this does not mean that Meretz neglected the other issues that are at the heart of the State of Israel.
If there is anything we have learned in the government of change, it is that it is possible and necessary to act on all levels.
We can talk about the Palestinians and take care of the weakest in Israeli society, we can promote the LGBT community and deal with the climate crisis, and at the same time expand social services, this is our duty.
The Meretz faction took a central part in the fight for dramatic cuts in the neoliberal regulatory reform and for a significant revision of the retirement age outline for women, so that the safety net for disadvantaged women would be expanded.
Even in the change government, a neoliberal line dominated, and Meretz was in a minority position on this issue, as almost a single party that represented a social democratic line in the coalition.
We stand in the upcoming elections not only with the red flag.
We are with the red flag, and we are with the political flag and the civil flag.
This is the difference between us and the other parties.
We have a broad, real and well-founded worldview, which is not dictated by public opinion polls.
We are the left.
were we wrong
We will fix it!
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