Would you like to learn a little about a tiny Middle Eastern country's politics - and then cast your vote?

You said it yourself, @zensky. “It’s insane.” Everybody seems to have ideas for running the country, and only a few seem to want to do it cooperatively.

I wish you and your fellow citizens the best of luck.

I might participate if there were a succinct list of candidates and their platforms. The information provided in the Wiki article about parties seems to be more historical.

My vote goes to “Gentle Ben” to retain power, he seems like a jolly nice fellow & his surname makes me smile.

Does Israel have something similar to the American Tea Party?

A number of beautiful women are leading the parties. I’m voting for one of them. Most of the men are ugly, old and religious looking. Sorry. I’m prejudiced against men. They shouldn’t be allowed to run countries.

@mazingerz88 Hmmm. Not really. The last mass protest took place over the summer – and fizzled-out. But it was a leftist type housing is too expensive protest.

Chuck Norris likes Bibi

Here – each party writes 150 words about itself. Question: is there a good program which can translate this?

@zensky Feeding it into Google Translate in small chunks would probably render an… adequate… English version:

“Few hours the polls will be opened, and the elections for the 19th come out their way. Already decided who to vote for? If you are still undecided, this is a great opportunity to re-examine the various parties and decide which are right for you. For your convenience, to prevent you from drowning in mountains of text, we asked all parties to summarize salient for you, in 150 words or less, all the reasons to vote for them. They set about seriously – and here is the results.”

Thanks.

Such a large number of individual parties reminds me of that scene in Star Wars where Senator Palpatine addressed a multitude of representatives from different sectors of the galactic Empire standing in their own balconies. : )

@zensky is there a good program which can translate this?

Google Chrome web browser translates whole pages.

I’m reading your link in English now.

I can’t comment on the quality of the translation, I don’t know Hebrew.

OK, I am reading the Google-translated page, and it’s obviously clumsy.

The Labor Party is called “Work”

But I have to say, wow, you have actual leftists over there. Mazel tov for you! We should be so lucky in the US!

@jaytkay Thanks. I hate Chrome. Tried it, almost killed myself. Google translate is HYSTERICAL. I have friends who play this game where we show REAL attempts to use it to translate – the results are, shall we say, less than stars in the sky (stellar). I intend (mean), the program can write all kinds of manure. ;-)

How about you post a paragraph for me to translate to Hebrew. I’ll translate it, them interpret what Google did. You’ll see how completely horrible it is – but funny. Thank the heavens I am bi-lingual.

@zensky Challenge accepted. Translation software and Israeli politics are both interesting to me.

Here is the Google transation of the Green Party’s 150 words.

How accurate is the translation? Does it give an idea of the party’s emphasis?

“Green is the only party that really takes care of the interest of the public, and the most basic needs of our: the air we breathe, the water we drink, the quality of the food we eat, the ways in which we are moving, streets and open spaces to go with our children, animal welfare, and more.”

“With any leakage of hazardous material, with any increase or decrease of the lake, all jam – discover the importance of green, environmental security and public health. We are there – therapists struggling with serious problems that plague the public for 15 years, local authorities throughout the country. Care to reduce air pollution, congestion fees, bike paths, green spaces, educational programs and more. It’s time the Greens in the Knesset of Israel, as is the case in parliaments around the world – green ”

Not too bad, grammar aside.

the ways in which we are moving, streets and open spaces to go with our children, animal welfare, and more.” LOLOL.

with any increase or decrease of the lake (Lake Kinneret is a vital source of water for us here in the desert. We follow the amount of water it has like an eskimo watches for whales.

all jam – I like mine on toast (I am being lazy and not re-googling this – just trying to figure out what the meant… bare with me (tee hee)

We are there – therapists struggling with serious problems that plague the public for 15 years, OMG lol

congestion fees – we have bad traffic problems entering Tel Aviv… I don’t know of a fee, pre se… I think they meant the toll it takes on our lives…

It’s time the Greens in the Knesset of Israel, as is the case in parliaments around the world

It sounds funny – but I know what they mean; check out European governments – many coalitions include some kind of Green party making up even a third or more of their government.

In Israel – nada

Great playing with ya buddy. I am off to vote; it’s open from seven til ten at night here. May God grant us sanity and a new government, please. Amen.

And loved James at the inaugural – such a fine singer. Obama was good, too. Didn’t mess up this time.

Australia has a “4 day Work Week Party” if you had one of those, that would be my choice. As it is, I would probably close my eyes and poke. Course that is what I usually do here too!!!

The Labor Party.