Keren Neubach is angry. Not only did the government pass a drought “tax,” on water usage over a certain quantity, the water authority raised the price of water by 50% beginning in January. Yesterday Neubach invited three people to speak on her morning program on Reshet Bet about water policy.
Neubach and MK Ronit Tirosh of Kadima claimed the tax was pushed through illegally, bundled with the bill on the state budget. The money doesn’t go toward infrastructure or anything connected to the water crisis, like desalination plants. It was blackmail.
MK Yaakov Litzman of Agudath Yisrael complained about the effect of high water rates on poorer families. Even MKs whose grandchildren visited them over the Sukkot holiday were shocked by their bills. Neubach pointed out that families in lower-income areas are more likely to have poor infrastructure that causes leaks, and of course they suffer most if water rates go up.
So MK Tirosh advocated civil disobedience, advising citizens not to cooperate with the water authority’s request for the number of people in each household. She and Neubach also suggested canceling your standing bank order, delaying payment, deducting extra fees, and “flooding” the water authority with pointless questions. The idea is that the water authority would never dare cut off anyone’s water supply.
Well, fifty percent is a lot (although that may be closed to the “real” price of water). I have no doubt that the tax is flawed and perhaps illegal. I’m not sure about civil disobedience, though. Take it to court or get the law repealed. My son suggested we follow Tirosh’s logic and stop paying our electric bill, to protest the exaggerated salaries and pensions of the government monopoly’s workers.
Most annoying of all was the exchange between Litzman and a man whose name I didn’t catch. He had written an email (to Neubach?) about the effect of the tax on his household. He said that he decided to build a private house, “in a place no one wanted to live” (i.e. he was doing everyone a favor using all that land, although I somehow doubt the area’s property value has decreased). He added a large garden, most of which he allowed to dry up. Because they are only two people their water allocation at the normal rates can’t support the garden.
At this point Litzman interrupted him. “Tell the story! I read your mail and it was so touching.” Apparently, four years ago the man’s son was killed in battle, and the father erected a memorial corner in his garden. Now he is worried that the price of water will get so high that he won’t be able to continue watering the olive tree in memory of his son.
There are so many things wrong with this.
There needs to be healthy debate about water policy in Israel. But Neubach didn’t invite anyone to present a view in supporting of current policy.
No policy will please everyone, and some people will be hurt more than others. That’s how it is whenever you have a tax, fine or rate increase. Neubach’s only positive suggestion was to give discounts to people who save water instead of fining people for wasting it.
I’m no expert on water policy. But I know enough to be disturbed by people who talk as if having as much water as you want at a cheap price is a God-given right. Israel has a finite amount of fresh water, and it’s time we started working together to find solutions.
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I wrote a guest post for the Welcoming Olim blog on Writing Checks in Israel. Check out the rest of the blog for tips on health funds, ulpan, national insurance, and more.
The Jerusalem Post reports on the legal battle against public buses that require women to sit in the back:
The Transportation Ministry delivered the conclusions of the committee report on gender-segregated public bus-lines, known as ‘Mehadrin’ buses, to the High Court of Justice Tuesday morning.
According to the report, the segregation itself is not legal, but passengers may voluntarily segregate themselves if they so chose.
I can’t remember who pointed out that haredi women who object to segregated buses are not always in a position to protest. As a democracy, Israel has an obligation to protect the rights of these women. Democracy doesn’t mean that the majority decides, as the expense of everyone else. No one can decide where someone should sit on a public bus.
Here is a video about the dispute (Thanks to Religion and State in Israel).
For some people, gender-segregated buses aren’t enough. The Jerusalem Post reports:
Yoel “Yoelish” Kraus, the kambatz, or “operations director” for the Eda Haharedit organization, was released to house arrest on Monday after being arrested the previous evening for assaulting a haredi woman who refused to move to the other side of the street in the capital’s Mea She’arim neighborhood, police said.
On a lighter note (or not) Jameel shares the New York City Board of Health’s swine flu prevention efforts in the Orthodox Jewish community:
Rafi continues to follow news of the “Burqa Lady,” the hyper-modest mom of many in jail for child abuse. Now she and her lawyers are petitioning the Red Cross because of her prison conditions.
Here’s some good news: Mimi of Israeli Kitchen hosts her first Kosher Cooking Carnival, with beautiful pictures and tasty recipes.
Finally, ArtzeinuBlog hosts the Aliyah Edition of Haveil Havalim, the Jewish/Israeli blog carnival.
Thank you to readers, old and new, for your thoughtful answers to my question about Israeli parenting. If you haven’t been following the discussion I suggest taking a look.
Now I’d like help with ideas for a reader and mother of four returning to the working world:
Any tips on how to make this transition [back to work] least traumatic on my very attached 18 month old? She has always been home with me and I’m now getting her used to the daycare setting.
I’ll start off:
Remember that all transitions are stressful, even if things go smoothly. Your baby will likely demand more of your time, as will your other kids. Even without the concern for your daughter, having to compress or eliminate activities you usually do during the day will be a challenge. Finally, listen to suggestions from other mothers, but don’t let anyone tell you not to worry or that it’s no big deal. It is. But you will get through it in the end. And you won’t regret the strong connection you have formed with all your children.
Readers, please share more thoughts in the comments.
A journalist for an American magazine sent me questions for an article on parenting styles around the world. I know Israeli parents are not homogeneous, but please help me out.
How are Israeli parents different from parents in other countries? What makes them unique? I already plan to mention Bamba.
Haveil Havalim is up at Ima on the Bima. Speaking of Ima, I won a book by accident when I commented on her post about female rabbis in literature. But she didn’t give the book a very good review, so I asked her to hold on to it. I’m sure Phyllis won’t mind sending it to someone else so let me know if you want it. In the meantime, I’ll think twice before I comment!
What would society look like if people didn’t have mixed feelings about breastfeeding? Canadian mother Ruth Kamnitzer found out when she spent several years in Mongolia. Hat tip: Commenter Ariela.
I started a four-part series on CookingManager.Com called Feeding Babies Frugally. Part I: The Early Months and Part II: Starting Solids, When and Why are up.
Speaking of feeding babies, Robin shares a surprising baby animal picture. I thought only kangaroos tandem nursed.
Mazal tov to The Jewish Side aka Babysitter, who just got engaged.
Jacob Richman presents the Noach Page, with “links to children’s parsha pages,
commentary pages, humor items (including the Bill Cosby Noach skit) and a section on Noach stamps, graphics and clipart. Full of links and educational materials about this week’s Torah portion.”
New York readers should check out Yeshiva University’s Tanach Yom Iyun (Bible study day) on Sunday, November 1, 2009.
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