Government and Politics

So today was a free day again, and for the most part I really love these days, but today there was a big group going to the zoo, and I really didn’t want to go to the zoo because one, it cost a little much, even with our discounts, and two, it’s a zoo, they have them everywhere, it’s not like I’m on an African safari or anything! So yeah, the only bad part was then I had to find something else to do, and that was a little bit of a problem. I didn’t really wasn’t to be out all day, but I wanted to make sure that I did something. So long story short, I found two friends, Allison and Cameron, and we made plans to go to the YMCA bells and then to the Knesset, which is the Israeli Parliament building. The bells were fun, but I think that I already told you about those from last time, so let me just skip to the new stuff, the Knesset.

First of all, for a place that says that they let anyone in to watch when the Knesset is in session, the security when they are NOT there is appalling! They let anyone come and watch the proceedings of the committee’s and the legislature, they let protestors in, they let anyone with an Israeli ID or passport to come in, but man, did we have the time of our lives trying to get into this thing when it’s empty! The three of us got to the building about 45 min before the tour was about to start, so we just went across the street to look at this huge menorah that they have in a little park. It was a cool little park, we met a cat that was posed like Simba from the Lion King, and then we also helped another little cat with lunch. There are cat’s everywhere here by the way. There is not a Bob Parker to tell everyone to get their animals spayed or neutered, so they all just run wild and free here causing quite the overpopulation. Anyway, this cat was a little cute, and Cam really has a soft spot for cat’s, so we gave it some food and some lovin’. When we had about a ½ hour before the tour, we decided that we would just go through security and then check out some of the place before the tour, so we went up to the place where security was, and the guy asked us what we were there for. We said that we were here for the tour, but before we could say anything he told us, “tour is not until 1:45 [it was 115 at the time], you come back then. Go and look at the menorah.” I told him that the website wanted us there 15 min before the tour to make sure we got through security on time, and he said fine to that. We went to see this little sculpture that was down the sidewalk on the Knesset side, and after we looked at it, we sat down next to it in some shade. Next thing we know, we are getting yelled at in Hebrew by an armed guard who, if he could speak English, would have been saying, “you can’t sit there, go across the street and look at the Menorah!”

We are a little frustrated at this point, there are a few large groups of children that just got to the little square by the menorah, but we didn’t have a choice. The next 15 min were full of little exciting things like Cam being told by a native not to touch the cat’s because they have disease, a little school girl farting, and this woman totally sporting this Beyonce shirt that was amazing! So, 15 min later at 130 we go and follow this large group of school children into the security area. At this point, and much to our frustration, we got stopped by the guard. “It is not time yet, 145 I say, go and look at the menorah.” He said. “But you told us that we could come in 15 min before” I responded. “No.” he said, “you cannot come for 15 min, go across the street and look at the menorah! Come back when it’s time!” Anyway, we were just a little peeved, and we really didn’t know what was so great about the menorah, but I think that it was the only true words this man knew in good English. So yeah, needless to say, we waited, we finally got in, (no cameras here, sorry!) and we almost missed our little tour. Security… failed once again! Anyway, the tour itself was about an hour, and we learned a lot about the government and the way that it is run. I won’t go into detail here about the architecture and what it means or anything, but a few little points that I think are neat.

First, I think that it is cool that the seats in the legislature are in the shape of a menorah (I recognized that when the tour guide asked!) and the wall in front of them is spit into a secular and a religious side to remind all those who are making choices about the background here. There is a lot of Jerusalem symbols here too because at the time that the building was built, there was not a Jerusalem for the Jews, it was still in Palestine, and so they always wanted to remember what they could not get to. Second, while the Israeli’s have a declaration of independence, they do not have a constitution. Fun fact: because of a few factors including a Sabbath and some English holiday, Ben Gurion (first PM of Israel) wanted the Declaration of Independence signed and sent off before Shabbat, but they didn’t have time after all the deliberations to write what they had agreed on down before sunset, so the Declaration was signed by all parties on a blank parchment, they declared their independence that day, and then actually wrote the words above the signatures a couple days later! But yeah, they don’t have a constitution because they don’t know what kind of government to have, the 3 options being a Jewish, a democracy, or a Jewish democracy. Anyway, there are obvious differences to all of these options and it causes quite the problem. Without a constitution, the legislative branch and the Supreme Court just go back and forth with laws being made and then overturned. Our tour lady said that she liked that because it made things fluid, but in reality I think that there really just isn’t any stability in a government like that. But yeah. They have a committee whose job it is to decide on laws that are able to fall under all of those 3 types of government, and then the hope is that when they have enough, they will be able to compile them into a constitution. From the 1960’s to now they have come up with a whopping 12 laws so far that they are able to agree on like that, things like freedom of speech and stuff. No wonder there are issues here!

Anyway, that was the Knesset adventure. We had a really long walk home, a short stop in the Old City to get a scripture case for Allison (as well as some juice from Shabaan’s) and then a very-much-needed purchase of deodorant for Cameron. Anyway, it was not the short trip that we had hoped for, (we got back at 6) but we had tons of fun. There was quite the view of the Jews playing in the park… it is quite the cultural thing here to see! But yeah, I really needed a break for my legs after that!! Anyway, Fun day, but I’m also ready for Bethlehem tomorrow!! Fun times!