By Ira Sharkansky
JERUSALEM — Israelis have good reasons to complain. In that trait, they resemble the
residents of 192 other member states of the United Nations, plus Palestinians
and others who want into the club.
Currently the problems have gone beyond the price of cottage cheese and
housing, and have spread to the plight of young phyisicians having to work long
hours in order to acquire the credentials of specialists. Tent cities are
springing up in the cities to demonstrate the plight of people who say they
cannot afford decent housing, there continue to be media reports about cottage
cheese, and physicians have walked out of their wards to assemble on the grass
and wave their signs.
housing, and have spread to the plight of young phyisicians having to work long
hours in order to acquire the credentials of specialists. Tent cities are
springing up in the cities to demonstrate the plight of people who say they
cannot afford decent housing, there continue to be media reports about cottage
cheese, and physicians have walked out of their wards to assemble on the grass
and wave their signs.
The New York Times correspondent has written that the “Spirit of
Middle East Protests Doesn’t Spare Israel.” Ethan Bonner is careful to
distinguish the demands of Egyptians, Syrians, Libyans et al from Israelis, but
he draws a parallel, and sees Israelis learning from Arabs how to jostle their
government.
Middle East Protests Doesn’t Spare Israel.” Ethan Bonner is careful to
distinguish the demands of Egyptians, Syrians, Libyans et al from Israelis, but
he draws a parallel, and sees Israelis learning from Arabs how to jostle their
government.
Perhaps. But his article reminds me of praise in the same newspaper for
Arab protests that were seen to herald the onset of democracy.
Arab protests that were seen to herald the onset of democracy.
Anyone with good sense should be a long way from predicting the nature of
regimes that will emerge in the Arab countries upset by mass demonstrations and
violence. Likewise, it is early to say what will happen as a result of Israelis
protesting the details of public policy. If the young people of Israel are
learning from Arabs how to recruit demonstrators, the officials of Israel are
not behaving like their Arab counterparts. Instead of sending in the police to
tear down the tents and beat protesting physicians, the prime minister is
meeting with advisors and politicians who are falling over themselves to meet
with various groups of protesters and offer solutions for their problems.
regimes that will emerge in the Arab countries upset by mass demonstrations and
violence. Likewise, it is early to say what will happen as a result of Israelis
protesting the details of public policy. If the young people of Israel are
learning from Arabs how to recruit demonstrators, the officials of Israel are
not behaving like their Arab counterparts. Instead of sending in the police to
tear down the tents and beat protesting physicians, the prime minister is
meeting with advisors and politicians who are falling over themselves to meet
with various groups of protesters and offer solutions for their problems.
There are also argumentative Israelis questioning the motives, policy
goals, and activities of various protesters. While I cannot claim enough
expertise in each field to judge the disputes, I cannot resist the fray.
goals, and activities of various protesters. While I cannot claim enough
expertise in each field to judge the disputes, I cannot resist the fray.
Prominent in the demands of young people feeling themselves unhoused is
their quest for housing that is “decent,” “affordable,” and located in desirable
neighborhoods. The vast majority of these people are not homeless. A
disporportionate number of them are university students, which means that they
come from the upper slice of the country’s economy. Without judging what they
mean by decent housing, it is difficult to decide how different they are from
many people in many countries who cannot afford the housing they would like in
desirable locations.
their quest for housing that is “decent,” “affordable,” and located in desirable
neighborhoods. The vast majority of these people are not homeless. A
disporportionate number of them are university students, which means that they
come from the upper slice of the country’s economy. Without judging what they
mean by decent housing, it is difficult to decide how different they are from
many people in many countries who cannot afford the housing they would like in
desirable locations.
Protest organizers have been careful to assert that they are seeking social
justice and not political gains. Yet those who speak do so with a leftist
accent. Most notable was the young man heard on one of the news programs who
coupled his concern for cottage cheese with housing, and demanded an immediate
reduction of 30 percent in the price of all food.
justice and not political gains. Yet those who speak do so with a leftist
accent. Most notable was the young man heard on one of the news programs who
coupled his concern for cottage cheese with housing, and demanded an immediate
reduction of 30 percent in the price of all food.
Physicians preparing to be specialists knew the demands that would be made
of them before they began advanced training. Moreover, the training of
specialists here is similar to that elsewhere. While
protesters say that they want the hiring of more physicians to ease their
workload, skeptics in the profession have said that there may not be enough
candidates to fill the increased number of positions. What we may be seeing is
the shortfall of material and personnel resources needed to provide high quality
medical service.
of them before they began advanced training. Moreover, the training of
specialists here is similar to that elsewhere. While
protesters say that they want the hiring of more physicians to ease their
workload, skeptics in the profession have said that there may not be enough
candidates to fill the increased number of positions. What we may be seeing is
the shortfall of material and personnel resources needed to provide high quality
medical service.
Israel’s medicine is a mix of public and private. Critics say that the
drift has been too much in the private direction, and that there should be more
resources allocated to the public sector. Maybe. That is hard to judge. We all
have basic coverage, and 70-80 percent of the population pays more for the
supplemental coverage offered by the HMOs.
drift has been too much in the private direction, and that there should be more
resources allocated to the public sector. Maybe. That is hard to judge. We all
have basic coverage, and 70-80 percent of the population pays more for the
supplemental coverage offered by the HMOs.
That extra coverage is pretty much standardized from one HMO to another,
and regulated. There are other insurance schemes, offering even better options,
said to be acquired by 20-30 percent of the poulation.
and regulated. There are other insurance schemes, offering even better options,
said to be acquired by 20-30 percent of the poulation.
It is fair to say that the large majority is well covered when judged by
international standards. Complaints continue, but resources are limited. This is
not one of the very wealthy countries, and we each have to invest in tanks and
military airplanes.
international standards. Complaints continue, but resources are limited. This is
not one of the very wealthy countries, and we each have to invest in tanks and
military airplanes.
So far there are no signs of democracy coming to the countries
participating in Arab spring. Where commotions continue in what is now Arab
summer, there are more reasons to expect something other than democracy in their
near future.
participating in Arab spring. Where commotions continue in what is now Arab
summer, there are more reasons to expect something other than democracy in their
near future.
Israel’s democracy, like those of other countries well endowed with decent
politics, undergoes frequent tests. Israel’s may be tested more often than other
countries, given its neighborhood and a population that inherited an intensity
of criticism from Prophetic ancestors. No one should predict the price of
cottage cheese, or the responses of the government to the protests about housing
or medical training. Politicians are scrambling to help on all of these issues.
With all guesses taken into account, we will remain a light unto a neighborhood
that few neighbors are willing to acknowledge. Currently we’re ranked #8 in the
world for life expectancy, ahead of most Europeans and even further ahead of
that country in North America that dictates to everyone else. According to the
latest data, I will have two years more of complaining than people there who
receive these columns.
politics, undergoes frequent tests. Israel’s may be tested more often than other
countries, given its neighborhood and a population that inherited an intensity
of criticism from Prophetic ancestors. No one should predict the price of
cottage cheese, or the responses of the government to the protests about housing
or medical training. Politicians are scrambling to help on all of these issues.
With all guesses taken into account, we will remain a light unto a neighborhood
that few neighbors are willing to acknowledge. Currently we’re ranked #8 in the
world for life expectancy, ahead of most Europeans and even further ahead of
that country in North America that dictates to everyone else. According to the
latest data, I will have two years more of complaining than people there who
receive these columns.
*
Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He
may be contacted at ira.sharkansky@sdjewishworld.com
Sharkansky is professor emeritus of political science at Hebrew University. He
may be contacted at ira.sharkansky@sdjewishworld.com