An election campaign is like water to a fish for politicians, journalists, commentators, election workers, etc. Among most of the public, politics inspires disgust, especially when the feeling is that elections are being imposed on us too frequently. The general public expects this murky wave to pass.
But with all the disgust for politics, we must not forget that it greatly influences our destiny. The campaign should not be seen as "the boys will play before us." At the end of the game, there will be results, and they will determine the balance of power in the next Knesset. From this will be determined the composition of the next government, its basic guidelines, its policy, and what laws the Knesset will enact - things that will affect the lives of each and every one of us.
Not for gambling
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In the current election cycle, the rules of the game are changing. Raising the threshold creates a new reality, the public does not necessarily grasp its full significance. This was the case in the 1992 elections, after the threshold was raised, and several lists of loyalists of the Land of Israel failed to pass the hurdle.
The result was unfortunate. Although the number of voters for the right-wing bloc was greater than the number of voters for the left-wing bloc, the loss of votes gave a majority of seats to the left-wing bloc. Thus a left-wing government was established, with Meretz in the Ministry of Education, and with the terrible adventure of Oslo. Those same loyalists to the Land of Israel later stood at intersections, waving protest signs and shouting at the top of their lungs. Too late.
In the last election campaign, about a hundred thousand votes of observant Jews and loyal to the Land of Israel were wasted. Did we say wasted? Not exactly. They were divided among the other parties. Those good Jews single-handedly put another mandate or two into lists whose views were completely opposite to theirs. If these votes had been given to larger lists, it is likely that the situation would have been completely different, the composition of the government would have been different, and many decrees would have been avoided.
It is important to say these things now, before the horses are harnessed to the propaganda carts. We do not have the privilege of running small parties and gambling on our fate and the fate of our children. Too many questions are at stake to let anyone who wants to split do their own thing. What will we say later, if because of the loss of these votes, unfortunate and disastrous decisions are made – were we well-intentioned? Or was there some remote poll that gave that list a chance to pass?
The real choice
We must now lead a trend of connection and unity. We must cultivate an understanding that unity of forces is an advantage, not a disadvantage. If you would vote wholeheartedly for a candidate if he were running alone, there is nothing wrong with him being integrated into a larger list. Continue to vote for him, but this time you are sure that your vote will not be lost, and that at most a candidate from the environment close to your position will be elected on your behalf. And would you prefer that a candidate from the other extreme be elected instead?! This is actually the choice before us.
Do not let the propaganda tricks confuse you. Weighty questions are at stake. The world is pressuring us to submit to the dictates of our enemies and establish a terrorist state in the heart of our country. The Jewish identity of the country is at stake. Each and every one of us must feel that their vote is decisive. With united forces we will succeed.
