Ballot slips
My third article for the Guardian newsblog is here.
Over coffee and the morning papers at my local cafe this morning, the actor (and cafe regular) Asher Tsarfati tried to convince Shmulik, the bartender, that he must vote. Shmulik said that he won't vote until there is a real revolution in Israeli society - a total change in attitude toward all the major issues that define the state. When I asked him what kind of a revolution he envisioned, he told me that it was a long story and he'd tell me some other time.
Asher said, "Look, I've seen your movies (Shmulik is a struggling actor/director) and I know you believe in social justice and equality between people. So vote Hadash! Vote for the only party in Israel that truly represents Jews and Arabs. Shmulik, if you vote I'll take you for lunch at my favourite fish restaurant. I'll buy you flowers. You have to vote! It's your democratic responsibility."
We all laughed, but Shmulik wasn't convinced.
Shmulik
I'll be running around all day today, gathering material for articles I'm writing on the elections. And I'm off to vote in a few minutes.
I'll post a roundup of what the Israeli blogosphere is saying about the elections on GVO later today; meanwhile I recommend checking Allison's blog regularly, 'cause she is updating several times per day with excellent elections coverage.
UPDATE: The GVO post is now up. Click here to read.
And here is a series of photos I took at Rabin Square the night before last.
Update: Here is another series of photos, taken on the morning of election day.
