Even a broken clock is right twice a day, and apparently so is our “change government.”
I’m speaking specifically about two initiatives put forward by ministers from the Meretz faction: Minister of Environmental Protection Tamar Zandberg’s increased tax on single-use plastic products and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz’s decision to extend health insurance to African asylum seekers.
Israel is a leader in single-use plastic consumption (NOT a source of pride) and uses the same amount of disposable plastic products as an EU country five times its size. There are entire Israeli stores dedicated solely to single-use products. In many supermarket chains, several aisles are dedicated to single-use products, and the product turnover is very high.
The average Israeli produces 0.5 kilos more than the global average daily (an extra 182.5 kilos a year per person). And this number grows by roughly 2% each year. This is unsustainable, in every sense of the word.
It’s honestly quite shocking to me that there exist people who oppose increased tax on single-use products, especially considering my doubts that anyone would actually want to live in literal heaps of trash any time in the near future. The most convincing argument I’ve heard against this tax is that it’s just a way to hurt the ḥaredi communities who heavily rely on single-use plastic (so many children and grandchildren sitting around a table can create quite a lot of dishes to wash).
Given the overall negative sentiment of Israel’s current government toward the ḥaredi sector, I actually wouldn’t be surprised if this were part of the reasoning. But I still think the initiative is both essential and good for everyone in the long run, even those who will either have to get used to a new reality of washing dishes or pay a premium. If I were the one levying the tax, I’d probably use the extra funds to subsidize compostable/biodegradable single-use products. I also know that ḥaredi communities are very resourceful and collaborative, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were to set up a communal dishwashing station (à la kibbutz) or something similar.
As for the asylum seekers, this is another initiative that conforms quite nicely to what a Jewish state should be. The value of hakhnasat orḥim is so deeply entrenched in our tradition and history, and it only makes sense that we would 1) welcome in asylum seekers and 2) give them what they need for as long as they’re our guests here.
I can theoretically understand why some Israelis would be nervous that this would “entrench” the presence of asylum seekers here, but I take issue with the statement that they’re “illegal infiltrators” who must be removed from the country. These are human beings seeking asylum, and we should be grateful that we have the ability and means to help them. Once upon a time and not very long ago, other nations didn’t do the same for us. We don’t need to perpetuate the suffering. If their presence is illegal, that only means that the law is unjust and should be changed.
Generally speaking, I have many issues with the current government, foremost among these is that it’s a plutocracy representing the interests of the wealthiest sliver of Israeli society. But I do try to acknowledge good where I see it, and I think these are two examples of our state moving closer to deeply expressing the values of our people (which is not necessarily what you’d expect from the Meretz faction in a government made up of westernized elitists).
