Most Americans don’t look at our political system with shining, pride-filled eyes. Having just come out of a grueling and elongated election, some people are sick of it.
The people of Israel are actually jealous of it – or at least that’s what Gil Hoffman, political correspondent for the Jerusalem Post, told a room full of people in the Harper Center this past Monday.
Hoffman was at Creighton University to discuss the new administrations of both the United States and Israel and what they are each doing to further the cause of peace in the area. The Creighton Student Jewish Organization sponsored the event.
Creighton alumnus and active member of the Student Jewish Organization Trevor Gerson said that their goal is trying to get issues of Jewish importance out there.
“We had the Deputy Consul of the Israeli Midwestern Consulate, Gershon Kedar, here in February, and we were still talking to them about bringing another speaker and they suggested Hoffman.”
Hoffman is considered an expert on Israeli politics and has interviewed former Prime Ministers Shimon Peres and Ariel Sharon, among others. He was admittedly optimistic about the future of Israel and Palestine.
“I want people to know that it’s going to be OK,” Hoffman said. “So much pessimism comes out of this, but mostly from people who stand to benefit from pessimism.”
Israel has seen numerous unexpected changes in the government. Elections were next scheduled for 2010, but former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert stepped down early and thus elections were necessary. During the election Israel invaded the Gaza strip and campaigning came to a halt.
The war ended three weeks before the election, giving all 32 parties in the election little time to prepare.
“The Israeli political system is messed up, all Israelis agree,” Hoffman said. “We don’t have a very issue-driven election. We vote for parties. They select their candidates on their own. Things in America are very orderly, but what you had in Florida in 2000 is similar to what we have every year, but with less lawyers and more politicians. I don’t know if we’re blessed in that way.”
Hoffman touched on Israel’s recent economic hardships and record unemployment. More than 30 percent of the population is now unemployed in Israel.
He also touched on how Benjamin Netanyahu, the new Prime Minister, will get along with Barack Obama, the future of an independent Palestinian state and the recent invasion of Gaza.
The invasion of Gaza and further occupation was a controversial subject eliciting numerous responses from different people during the question-and-answer session.
The most critical of those being the questions from Palestinian-born Creighton pharmacy professor Dr. Naser Alsharif, who brought up the disproportionate amount of Palestinian civilians dead, racism among high-ranking Israeli officials and the ongoing occupation of Palestine by Israeli forces.
“It’s important to hear the other side,” Alsharif said. “When you establish a nation based on the destruction of other people you can’t be a proud state.”
Hoffman said that argument is something he’s used to when lecturing.
“I’ve gotten heckled on different campuses, but not as bad as others mostly because I’m not a representative of the government,” he said. “I mean, what’s the point of attacking a reporter?”
Hoffman wanted people to come away from his speech with not only a greater appreciation of their own government, but with the idea that things will turn out better in the Middle East. He stressed the importance of upcoming elections in Lebanon, Syria and Iran, but said he felt the future was bright overall.
“I genuinely believe that better times are ahead,” he said. “That the Israeli government will be doing everything possible to promote peace and bring a brighter day not only for Israelis but for the Palestinian people and the people of the entire region and ultimately America as well.”