Young Israeli Politicians Give HoVal Students Window into their World

Three Israelis involved in the political process in their homeland visited Hopewell Valley Central High School on November 4 to discuss their experiences and political issues.
 
Mandatory military service for Israelis after high school, intense security measures as part of everyday life, and the shift of Israeli politics toward the right were some of the topics students discussed with the visitors. The three were part of a delegation brought to New Jersey by the American Council of Young Political Leaders (www.acypl.org), a Washington, D.C.-based, non-profit group funded in part by the U.S. Department of State.

“We bring young political leaders here, and send leaders from here abroad,” to promote diplomacy and cultural understanding, said Kristin Rhebergen, a 2002 graduate of HVCHS who is a program manager for the group. “The delegates can have any kind of involvement in politics, including media & law enforcement.”

The Israeli delegation members, in their 20s and 30s, spoke to members of three HVCHS classes: World Religions, AP Government and Politics, and Global Issues and Awareness, first in a large group and then in smaller discussion groups. The delegation also planned to visit members of the N.J. State Assembly, New Jersey U.S. congressional representatives, local mayors, and staff in Gov. Chris Christie’s office.

On the issue of military service for Israelis (three years are required of all young men, two of women), the delegate said it is controversial that the 20 percent of Israelis who are ethnic Arabs are not required to serve because of the conflict raging with Palestine, and that very orthodox Jews are allowed to opt out, as well, for religious reasons.

“The question of who fights and who doesn’t is a big issue,” said Shay Even, a member of Ra’Anana City Council in Israel.

Mordechai Ruham, chief of staff for a member of the Israeli Parliament, said that military service in Israel is the great equalizer.

“I slept in the barracks next to the son of the richest family in Israel, while on the other side of me was a boy who had no family and nothing,” Ruham remarked.

Linore Deutsch, a political consultant and spokeswoman for a member of the Israeli Parliament, said during her military service one of her greatest concerns was losing the gun she was assigned to carry at all times during basic training.

“I always lose stuff,” she said with a smile. “After basic training, luckily, they took gun away.”

Robert Siris, who teaches CHS’s World Religions course, noted the intense security in Israel when he visited the country as a student. Mr. Even noted that he found it somewhat unusual not to have bags searched when entering a restaurant here in the U.S., and that nearly every house in Israel is built with a bomb shelter, at least one room “fortified” with steel or concrete to protect against bombs and missiles.

“But when we were in Washington, D.C., we were impressed with the security there, and realized (Americans) are starting to understand that it can happen here,” he said, especially in the wake of 9/11.

When a student asked Ms. Deutsch why politics in Israel has shifted toward the right, she surmised it was due to the continuing frustration with settling the Palestinian conflict.

“I think people feel that in negotiations, Israel has given and given and given to the Palestinians, and they still back off from negotiations and won’t recognize that we have the right to exist.”

CHS senior Tyler Hoppe said the Israeli visit was a great idea. “I did a People-to-People trip to Europe last year and it is great to get to know cultures first-hand from the people, rather than just learning about it in class. I think it’s a great experience.”