Israeli elections will be held on 22 January 2013. The countries' political landscape and politicians' fortunes are as temperamental as a stock market. In some elections the candidates win the popular vote but cannot get a co-coalition, some are elected and then indicted, while some are down and out one year only to become prime minister in the next one. With the incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu leading the race at the moment, it looks like the next Knesset will be with him at the lead, flanked by a myriad of parties and deal making.
Two recent minor events prompted me to write about Israeli politics. On Friday night, I sat next to a girl from Yavne - Israeli by all means, with her own opinions which ironically are the same as all other Tel Aviv metropolitans I come across. The other event was merely watching a speech on YouTube by new comer and teenage heart-throb Yair Lapid.
In my casual chat with the girl from Yavne, we got on to the topic of public buses on Shabbat. Being a Jewish State, I argued that all government-run agencies should remain closed on the Jewish Sabbath. She advocated that it should be a matter of choice for the individual. Lapid's comments, far more eloquent than my Friday night banter, revolved around Haredi Jews "winning" the cultural war within Israel and urging a crowd of Haredi technicon students to contribute to shaping Israeli society in all forms and means.
Two conversations, pulling on one comment string. What is Israel today?
Labour Zionism, the basis of the State of Israel and a socialist-secular-European idea, is over. The concept of a kibbutz is slowly being phased out by more free-market lifestyles. The majority of Israelis, although aspiring to become another European Mediterranean hub, are largely from Arab lands. And a secular harmonious society underestimated the tribalism that lingers from Diaspora days. If Zionism, or at least the traditional version of Zionism is hallowing out, then again, what is Israel?
The future of what is Zionism, is reflected through its elections. Since Menachem Begin was elected in 1977, there has been a successive right-wing shift in Israel's leadership, barring brief the intervals of Rabin, Peres and Barak.
Similarly, the 2013 elections will see the right keep its hold, with the Labour still at sixes and sevens on how best to turn the tides left.
Netanyahu will win because the new face of Zionism today is in the heart of the settlements, the growing religious demography and a populous skeptical of dropping swords for olive branches. An apathetic middle class Tel Avivian in many ways is no match to the devoutness and commitment showed in the centre of the country.
The majority of Israel's population does not match the new emerging face of Zionism, and there lies the asymmetry between its elected leaders and the populous. However, just as the Haredi Israelis should take heed of Lapid's advice to take on more social responsibility as their status and numbers in society grow, so too should secular Israelis realise that Israel without Judaism is nothing. Getting on a private bus is a private matter on Shabbat, but when the State operates a public service on Shabbat, what does that say about the State?
These are issues that are being debated by the different parties right now. As trivial as it may seem, the election ultimately will define the very character of what Israel is, or at least should be.
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