The state knows how to reach sailors, but not the citizens who built it | Dr. Nachman Shai

Isaac Amit, President of the Supreme Court, showed a touch of humor this week. On the Supreme Court's desk was the protest of several organizations that sought to cancel the Knesset's decision regarding voting in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. To recall: the Knesset Constitution Committee removed, on the eve of the elections, a special arrangement that had been in place for the last two election cycles, according to which it was possible to place special polling stations in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and allow residents to vote.

This decision was made with the silly argument of "inequality": why place polling stations in nursing homes when other senior citizens, who do not live in such housing, will not enjoy a similar arrangement? This was, of course, an invention intended to deny the residents in those places their right to vote.

Opponents of the existing arrangement expressed concern that it mainly helps the opposition and those parties whose significant component of their voters is elderly and resides in these places. Between the lines, it was whispered that two parties, mainly Yisrael Beiteinu and Labor, are the main winners of high voting percentages, and therefore the denial of this right will hit them first and foremost. It was clear that if there were no accessible polling stations, the citizens in assisted living and nursing homes would have to struggle to distant polling stations where they are allowed to vote according to their residential address, and presumably would not be able to do so.

On the other hand, it should be noted that according to the instructions of the Central Elections Committee, parties are not allowed to transport voters to polling stations, wherever they may be. This option was already ruled out in the past. Family members and citizens not in a political framework are allowed to transport voters to polling stations, but it involves high costs, complex organization, and it is doubtful whether this is indeed possible.

The harm, therefore, to the value of "equality" deprives about 37,000 voters staying in these frameworks of their right to vote and influence. Judge Amit noted, and rightly so, that the state, if it wants, knows how to provide exceptions and protect them. For example, by law, special polling stations are placed for state envoys abroad, diplomats or Jewish Agency envoys (but not for El Al pilots who happened to land in New York on the morning of the elections. The pilots' organization's demand was rejected this time as well).

And for the "sailors" — well, let's talk for a moment about the sailors. This is certainly a "large" public that is entitled to this rare right. Back in the early 50s, Israel dreamed of a large fleet. Why not? A country with such a long coastline, an open coast unlike our closed land borders. And indeed, it was expected that a merchant fleet would be built that could serve the country's citizens. Since then, of course, many changes have occurred. Israeli ships, excluding the IDF Navy, have passed into foreign hands. They fly flags of other nations for various and diverse reasons, and the crews are actually a fascinating variety of peoples and nationalities. I doubt if there are any Israelis among them at all.

There remains, therefore, the joke that returns every election cycle: "What about the sailors' votes?". Interesting, by the way, where are those sailors' polling stations? On the ships? In the ports? As for the Foreign Ministry and the Jewish Agency envoys, they can vote. The counting of votes begins early, because it must be finished quickly. The ballot boxes must be transferred to Israel so that the ballots in them can be counted together with those in the other polling stations and secrecy will be maintained.

Sailors yes, and envoys no?

Everything is good and beautiful. The technology exists, and it is possible to vote in exceptional polling stations that are not spread out according to residential areas. From here, another question arises: why is it not possible for Israelis staying abroad, at least for short periods, to participate in the vote? See, for example, those El Al pilots. In my time, during my tenure in the Knesset, I tried to pass a law that would allow some Israelis — academics or envoys for short periods — to participate in the elections, however, under pressure from the Central Elections Committee, which pointed out its technical complexity, I gave up. I regret this.

Ahead of the upcoming elections, as reported, many intend to arrive in Israel. Not only the voters belonging to the Haredi communities, who did so in the past on a regular basis, but also other publics that have left the country in recent years (a 50% increase in emigration from Israel!), and they still feel they belong and want to participate in the elections.

Regarding assisted living and nursing homes, the decision to allow people to vote was correct, and its cancellation — a mistake. I hope that the Supreme Court together with the Central Elections Committee will find a way to a solution. But this is only a tangible example, in a nutshell, of the Israeli society's attitude toward a large public of men and women, who are deprived of their inalienable right to influence and vote. Israeli society gives its senior citizens the least of the least. The way Israel rewards 1.3 million senior citizens living in Israel — is shameful.

Pretend you are surprised.

Life expectancy in Israel is gradually rising — women 85, and men 82.5. This is good and beautiful, and before us is a growing public of women from the age of 62 and men over the age of 67. Yes, they were here for decades, many were born here. The state, thanks to them, reached its wonderful achievements, but this state is leaving them behind now. For years as a Knesset member, I headed the Pensioners' Lobby. I learned closely about the discrimination, the disappointment and the distress of very many in this large public. They knocked on the doors of the Knesset as on the doors of government ministries, and usually were rejected.

The Ministry for Senior Citizens was a ball that was tossed from ministry to ministry. Completely typical. Politicians estimated that it was impossible to make political capital out of it. They are wrong. It is possible and how. But that is not really the point, it is not political, it is moral.

It is a large, wise, experienced public. A public that is not organized politically, because it has a variety of opinions, but it shares the concern and thinking not only for the present but also for the future, for its children and grandchildren. Its economic distress is known. They try to improve it. Here and there they give them a free ride or an exemption from the queue. There is no special and focused government effort to help them continue to live their lives in this chapter of theirs in well-being, pleasure and with dignity.

By the way, if you haven't noticed, they even continue to contribute to the life of this land. As those who have been here for many years, they consume and buy, go out and have fun. They don't just receive, they also help the country's economy. Yes, they are definitely relevant. Very. And so too in the voting in the Knesset and in the authorities, they vote, and in high percentages, are involved, and therefore have the right to expect that the state will consider them.

They are not doing them a favor

In the matter before us, an arrangement must be found. Nursing homes and assisted living must be included in the polling station map, and furthermore, the state must establish a transport system to allow its senior citizens to reach their polling stations wherever they are. The addresses of senior citizens are known, and whoever resides at a great distance from the polling station, it is the state's duty to bring it to him or him to it. This is only a little of what they deserve. It may cost a few millions, let it cost. In recent years we have spent billions on so many issues, only a tiny fraction of that will be the cost of transport services for senior citizens to their polling stations. They will receive this by right and not by grace. They are not doing them any favor.

Finally, if this thing doesn't help, I suggest they join our merchant fleet. As it was once said: "Join the fleet and see the world", so in our case the new slogan will be "Join the fleet and you will be able to vote for the Knesset". Funny? Sad.

The author is the Dean of the Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem, former Minister of Diaspora Affairs and IDF Spokesperson.