I’m still at a loss on who to vote for. How about you? I think I’ll just vote Meretz since my brain is on autopilot at this point. Eeeek.

And PS: When I called to ask about my voting location, they told me it’s at my old elementary school (I lived in Israel until age 11). Apparently, Misrad HaPnim didn’t update my address for the voting cards, so my last known address is the one I had in sixth grade. I guess I’ll awkwardly run into old neighbors and teachers. Yay!

I was at a Jerusalem Post sponsored panel in Haifa a couple days ago, and of the eight party representatives, Alon Tal was the only one to formulate a real and optimistic vision for the future of Israel (full disclosure – he is also a good friend). A vision focusing on world class, accessible education, environmental quality, energy independence, and social equality. The Meretz representative was condescending. The Labor rep was actually good – but then again, Barak is their leader. The Likud and Kadima representatives were terrible English speakers (which probably worked in their favor). The three right-wing parties competed with one another over who would be “tougher” with Israeli Arabs and Palestinians.

While I was a supporter before the panel, I came away thinking strongly that Green-Meimad is the only party of vision – of a party that sees a future a social-democratic state, where all streams of Judaism are respected, where all citizens have equal civil rights and no economic discrimination, where Israel leads the world in environmental and energy technologies.

One audience member leaned over and summed up her feeling to me that Green Movement-Meimad seems to be the only party that is “for” something. All the others are against.

Final two thoughts. I refer you to my blog where I collected statements from my friends who are voting for Green-Meimad. And also to writer Haim Watzman’s piece: http://www.jewcy.com/post/go_green#.

Good luck and thanks for the opportunity to weigh in!