farmdoc's blog post number 296

In 1960, at the Rome Olympics, Australian Herb Elliott won the men’s 1500 metres race in world record time, in what’s said to be one of the most dominating performances in Olympic history [1]. In the same year Sweetheart Vivienne, then a 12-year-old in year 7 at school, first met her classmate Rita. And so began their friendship which has continued to this day. Some years ago, when Vivienne and Rita were discussing something – what it was doesn’t matter here – Rita quoted her late mother: ‘If you weren’t there, you don’t know’. Today’s election day in Israel. Israel’s not only a democratic State, but her democracy’s arguably the most vibrant, and boisterous, on earth. It’s my impression that on every single Israeli and foreign policy issue, there’s a diversity of opinion far wider than in any other democracy: ten Israelis twelve opinions, and all that. Some 60¾ years after Israel’s birth, she still lives under existential threat. And arguably that threat is greater today than it’s ever been. Which makes her citizens’ choice today especially important. I hope they vote carefully and wisely, because the outcome of today’s election will be critical to the future of Israel, the Middle East, and maybe even the entire world. My prediction? To paraphrase Rita's Mum: ‘I’m not there, so I don’t know’.