They are in their tenth decade of life, their minds are as sharp and clear as pure water, and they do not hide their attitude towards the politicians in the country - and their opinion is sharp, negative and uncompromising.
"I think that none of the parties cares about the citizens," says Sara Avivi (90), one of the six tenants in the retirement village of Mash'an Afel.
"To throw away everyone and choose other politicians. You choose a certain side - and you don't know who he will join. There is an unclear game of chairs here. For example, Ayelet Shaked who goes where it is most useful for her at that moment. In addition, our Knesset greatly inflames the division in the people, led by Miri Regev. Is this how the former minister of culture behaves? She constantly emphasizes the issue of the Mizrahi identity, 'them and us'."
They were here when the country was established in 1948.
They saw with their own eyes David Ben-Gurion elected the first Prime Minister, experienced wars, a period of austerity and countless election campaigns.
Despite their extreme age, as everywhere else in the country, the debates surrounding the various political opinions are heated, but in a much more respectful way than the violent and curse-filled language that is heard more than once from the synagogue stage.
Ben Gurion.
The visionary man, photo: E.P
Only the name of one person makes some of them decide not to speak any more: Itamar Ben Gabir, who is running in the upcoming elections for the 25th Knesset, as part of the "Otzma Yehudit" party.
"Horror," says Ruth Simon (90) directly.
"If he is able to go up to the Temple Mount, knowing that the place is explosive, then in my eyes he is a ticking bomb."
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Gideon Zahavi (92), who testifies to himself that he has always been a right-wing man, does not agree with her.
"They make him more of a monster than he is. He brandishes a gun because he is afraid of himself. The gun is meant to protect him from Arabs who come to attack him, what's wrong with that?"
Leah Trivalski (93): "If he is a minister in the government, there will be pogroms here. There will be no transportation on Shabbat, and the women will have to wear veils."
Parliamentary inflation
"As soon as Ben Gvir is elected, he will moderate," reassures Batia Fenigstein (94).
Meir Levitsky (91) tries to inject a little humor into the debate.
"Gideon, you must have a lot of complaints against Ben Gabir for waving a gun and not shooting him."
"Do you want to be my personal translator?"
Gideon answers sarcastically.
The dialogue between the six is at the dawn of Israeli society.
They are sitting in the pub (yes, there is such a thing) of the retirement village, and each of them looks at least a decade younger than their age.
The green lawns, the colorful vegetation and the peace that can be seen from the windows contrast with the emphatic statements they utter from their mouths in the discussion.
Ben Gvir
"When he is chosen, he will be restrained", photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Is there a difference between today's elected officials and those who served in the government more than 50 years ago?
"The personalities of that time were elite like Yosef Borg, Haim Shapira or Zebulon Hamer," says Batia, who previously worked as a painter (drawing cuts for clothes).
She is a widow, mother of four and grandmother of 20 grandchildren and 70 great-grandchildren, all of whose names she remembers.
"I don't want to exclude the young people today, but it's not the same."
Ruth agrees with Bethia.
She is divorced, mother of two and grandmother of 3 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
"Then they were more honest and more decent," she explains.
"True, there were some who weren't righteous, but it's not like what we see in recent governments. Today, everyone takes care of their salary and their seat. Every year their salary is raised, and they didn't raise even a dime in my pension."
Reject the style
In the voice of Meir, a former aerospace industry man, there is a longing for the past.
He is married, father of 3 and grandfather of 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
"Ben-Gurion was the man with the vision. If it weren't for him, we wouldn't have a country today. There is no statesman like him. It was a different time. As citizens, we passed the siege in Jerusalem and there was solidarity. We stood together in line for oil and water. If we were in a similar situation today, everyone would Swallows alive".
What do you think about the current election system?
Ruthi: "A big catastrophe. I saw my uncle Amsalam on TV, and he says words that are not suitable for a member of the Knesset. The manner of speaking is harsh and aggressive. In addition to everything, the politicians speak fast. It is difficult for people our age to follow what they say like that."
"It's beyond criticism," says Leah, who previously managed a department in Vizzo.
She is a widow, mother of two and grandmother of 4 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
"The insults and the style of speaking seep in. I couldn't believe it when I heard Sara Netanyahu call the head of the Shin Bet by the nickname 'shit.'
Lord of the worlds, where have we come?
A person can't express his opinions with respect?
I think we have reached the bottom."
MK Dodi Amsalem in the Knesset plenum. "Harsh and angry way of speaking", photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Meir: "And it's not just the language. I'm ashamed of our legislature. None of them cares about the welfare of the elderly in the country. It's not in their platform. We are the ones who founded the state, built it, and today no one cares about us. Years ago I received an extra NIS 7 to the National Insurance. It's humiliating."
How does the cost of living affect you here, in Mishan Affil?
Ruth: "The truth is that here you feel less, even though because of the increase in taxes I pay more. For now it is not a high amount, but if it continues like this I will drown."
Sarah, who previously worked in flower export at the Agarkasku company, expresses a similar opinion.
She is a widow, including her two daughters, and grandmother to 5 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
"I feel the situation in terms of the amounts of buying the vegetables and fruits. I continue to buy as usual at the moment, but those who will lose in the end are our heirs. They will have less left. The young people in the country are the ones who really collapse."
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