From Trump to Ron Kobi of Tiberias: Is This the End of an Era?

Donald Trump's election as President of the United States was the first sign signaling the end of an era of traditional governance. In practice, this means it became permissible to loosen the reins - to be racist, discriminatory, outspoken, to kick against conventions, to challenge sacred institutions, and to use provocations as a method of management. The era has ended. The ruler in the age of Trumpism, the one who directs the leader from behind the curtain - is not the people. Democracy, as a system of governance, is now passé. The sovereign is social media. Likes are the new tyrants. Politics is about identities, and the real battle is over interpretations and public opinion. In such a world, the subjective and personal become everything - what I think is the truth. Where does this meet us?

As every five years, last November local elections were held, where, as is known, not only the mayor is elected but also the city council, the forum where most municipal decisions are made. To a large extent, the people managing the municipality and the city, and the elected officials making decisions in the city council, are those who influence our lives as citizens. They determine what services we will receive in all areas of life: education, environment, welfare, religion, etc. The question is what happens when a mayor is elected who decides, methodically, not to be accountable?

Snow in Tiberias – Only on Shabbat

Last weekend, Tiberias' usually sleepy promenade (awakening?) donned festive attire for the new attraction. Thousands of visitors came just to push their hands and feet into piles of white snow, feeling its crystal and soft texture. The snow arrived express from Mount Hermon in trucks, upon special order by the mayor, Ron Kobi. Since the exclusive event was held on Shabbat, the city's ultra-Orthodox public had to refrain from visiting the white snow, which was removed at the end of Shabbat for safety reasons (as explained in the media). What is the issue with approximately 25% of the city's population being excluded from a municipal public event so blatantly? Indeed, in an era with no shame - it really isn't a problem. Who will protest? Activists for refugees in South Tel Aviv? Human rights activists? Who will complain about discrimination? But the truth is, this isn't the only problem.

Besides the mass desecration of Shabbat in a city like Tiberias, one of the four holy cities, is this really the way to return Tiberias to the tourist map? I may not know, but it seems Tiberias needs a fundamental rehabilitation based on a long-term strategic plan. Gimmicks, provocations, and stirring divisions among the population do not serve the purpose. In this context, it is worth mentioning mayors like Ruvik Danilovich of Be'er Sheva and Moti Sasson of Holon, who turned their cities into real gems, with much hard work, investment, and perhaps most importantly - strategic thinking. It took years, but today Be'er Sheva proudly holds its status as the capital of the Negev, while Holon is branded as the city of children. These cities have real achievements, not snow.

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After Haifa's Mayor Dr. Einat Kalisch-Rotem apparently realized that there's a limit to what the Israeli and Haifa public can chew, swallow, and digest, she withdrew the appointment of the Hadash Secretary-General, Rajaa Zaatra, as her deputy. Now it's known he's been appointed as a member of the city's security committee. It’s somewhat absurd that Zaatra is a member of a committee dealing, among other things, with the municipality's emergency defense measures, and will presumably have access to classified information, for example, about the placement of military and civilian defense systems in the Haifa metropolitan area. It’s absurd not because of his origin, but because he declared his support for Hamas and Hezbollah, and does not consider them terrorist organizations but "freedom fighters." Haifa Municipality did not respond to these comments. In the name of freedom and democracy - who will defend the residents of Haifa?