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Editor's notes: Why won't Israel give its 100,000 olim a real political voice? -comment

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The article questions why the 100,000 North American immigrants (olim) to Israel lack a strong political voice.
  • Despite their significant numbers and contributions, no elected representative was present at a recent welcome event for the 100,000th immigrant.
  • The author argues that unlike previous immigrant groups who arrived "angry" and formed political power, North American olim have not organized effectively, possibly due to their established financial and educational backgrounds.

The arrival of the 100,000th North American immigrant, Emilia Douglas, was recently celebrated at the President's Residence in Jerusalem. President Isaac Herzog, the Aliyah and Integration Minister, and founders of the organization Nefesh B'Nefesh were present. However, the author, Zvika Klein, notes a striking absence: no elected representative of the immigrant community itself was invited or exists.

What the room lacked was an elected representative of the community those 100,000 people belong to. Because nobody thought to invite one. There isn’t one.

— Zvika KleinThe author highlights the absence of a political representative for the North American immigrant community at a significant event.

Klein questions why "Anglo Olim" (immigrants from English-speaking countries) have no representation in the Knesset. He points to the upcoming Likud primary, where a slot is reserved for a new immigrant, but at position 43, it is unlikely to secure a seat given current polling. This, he argues, is not merely an oversight but reflects a deeper issue.

Unlike previous waves of immigrants, such as those from Morocco, Iraq, and Yemen in the 1950s, or the million who left the Soviet Union in the 1990s, North American immigrants have not leveraged their arrival to build political power. Those earlier groups, Klein explains, arrived "angry" and facing significant challenges, which fueled the creation of powerful political movements like Shas and parties that secured ministerial positions.

Political power in this country has only ever been built by people who came running from something.

— Zvika KleinThe author contrasts the approach of previous immigrant groups who built political power out of necessity and anger.

In contrast, roughly 204,000 immigrants from the US, Britain, Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand have arrived since 1948. These immigrants are often financially established, educated, and integrated into various sectors of Israeli society. However, in 78 years, they have failed to produce a dedicated party, faction, or bloc. Klein suggests that "You cannot organize a grateful person," implying that their comfortable arrival and established lives have hindered their ability to unite and demand political representation effectively, unlike immigrant groups who arrived with grievances to address.

You cannot organize a grateful person.

— Zvika KleinThe author suggests that the established status of North American immigrants may hinder their ability to organize and demand political representation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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