Prime Minister Olmert

I'm actually not a huge fan of meeting famous people, but I'm sure I'll look back on it and appreciate having captured the experience in a photo.

This is me with the Israeli Prime Minister. No, I don't just ring him up and talk Middle East peace. Instead, I do (as one part of my job) all of the logistical and administrative prep work for Senators and Members of Congress who visit and I get to sometimes get in the high-profile meetings.

Israeli Elections

Israel's parliamentary elections take place on 10 February. I don't have much to compare this year's elections to, but it seems pretty muted. The conflict that ended last month in Gaza probably had something to do with it. Right now it seems Likud is poised to win a plurality in a very fractured Knesset (the name of the Israeli legislature). That means former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu probably will return to that role in about a month after he forms his coalition government. The big question will be -- who will be in the government. That's what we'll all be waiting to find out.

In the meantime, I've posted some election campaign posters. Take a look. Ask me any questions you have.

http://picasaweb.google.com/mpearl055/2009ElectionsInIsrael#

Covering All Views

Part of my portfolio out here is covering the rightwing parties in the Israeli Knesset. That is how I ended up at a conference in Jerusalem last Sunday, which was entitled, "Facing Jihad." The conference was sponsored by Eryah Eldad, head of the HaTikva ("The Hope") party, who focuses almost exclusively on ensuring that Jews can settle throughout what he calls "The Land of Israel" -- all the land between the Mediterranean and the Jordan River. This territory includes the West Bank, which most of the rest of the world considers occupied Palestinian territory.

The conference focused on publicizing the "threat" these individuals feel that Islam or "Radical Islam" poses for the West. The big name on the marquee for this event was Geert Wilders, a far-right Dutch parliamentarian with flowing, bleach-blonde hair who produced a film linking violence with Islam. Critics labeled the short film -- "Fitna" -- as racist, while others threatened to kill Wilders. The Dutch MP, taking the threats seriously following the 2004 assassination of fellow countryman and critic of Islam Theo Van Gogh, travels 24/7 with a team of bodyguards, several of whom surrounded him during his presentation.

The conference provided a useful insight into one segment of the Israeli polity. I would have preferred, however, if there had been more of a give and take with critics of this strain of thought.

Kazakh National Day

The Ambassador tagged us with the honor of representing the United States at the Kazakh National Day celebrations at the Dan Panorama Hotel this evening. We didn't let him down. We represented.

We arrived to see the reception hall packed with members of the diplomatic community. We were fortunate to observe musical and dance performances by Kazakh nationals, along with a video presentation about life in Kazakhstan. We would be remiss if we did not mention the food, which was yummy. We indulged in some chicken kabob, salmon, dumplings, and a massive spread of delicious desserts.

All in all, it was a pleasant way to spend a Sunday evening.

Election Season in Israel

The presidential race back home was exciting (though rather long) and has dovetailed right into electoral season in Israel. Israel's Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, has suffered politically from the fallout of Israel's less-than-stellar performance in the Israeli-Hizballah war in 2006, and from the weight of numerous investigations into his alleged corrupt practices. Olmert announced a few months ago that he would step down as premier, which led to a race for the leadership post within his ruling Kadima party. Tzipi Livni, Foreign Minister and political rival of Olmert's, was the front-runner to lead the party but she received a very strong challenge from Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, a former Defense Minister. Livni eked out a primary win, but she was not able to form a government (despite her standing as the most popular politician in Israel0 and elections were called for 10 February.

Kadima, a new party formed near the end of 2005 to support then-Prime Minister Sharon when he left the more rightwing Likud Party, is facing its first true national election and probably will find its biggest challenge coming from Likud, headed by former premier Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu. Polls are calling it a neck-and-neck race right now, but it seems the next government most likely will lean more rightward than the one we find today.

It is, however, an election, and I'm sure there will be an evolution in the race over the next few months.

In the meantime, Israel had municipal elections this week. I spent a small part of my Veterans' Day holiday checking out the local scene. An aide to one of the government ministers showed a colleague and me around his party's campaign operation and explained how they prepare and monitor results. Like most things in Israel, it was similar to what we find in the US, just smaller. Of note, though, is that each party has its own symbol that it displays on cards. I believe that is what they actually vote with. So, in all the campaign posters you see around town, they all have their little card, reminding you to vote for that party (other than mayoral posts, for which voters directly elect a candidate, Israelis elect a "party slate," which is a list of candidates selected by the party and presented to the voters as a bloc). See the picture for an idea what these cards look like.

Yitzak Rabin Commemoration

Today is the 13th anniversary and commemoration of the assassination of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin. Rabin was killed by a rightwing extremist opposed to the peace process with the Palestinians following a speech Rabin gave at a peace rally in Tel Aviv. Catherine and I were on our way to the port for dinner when we saw a cordon of police and had to go through a checkpoint on our bikes to get near Rabin Square; we decided to return later when the ceremony was set to begin.

The square was mostly packed when we arrived just after 1930. I was a little surprised how much of a political event it appeared to be. I saw signs for the Labor and Meretz parties, which each are on the left of the Israeli political spectrum. My lack of Hebrew language skills kept me from understanding the speeches (I heard parts of two), but it still seemed more of a political/advocacy event than a somber commemoration.

Check out what we saw: