Now that the elections are over, it’s time to move forward together


The midterm elections are officially over. The Israeli election is officially over. Whether the candidate you voted for or the party you were hoping would win got elected or not, it’s now time to mobilize as a country, and as a Jewish community. There are too many pressing issues at stake to dwell on what-ifs or to look back wishing for a different result.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid spoke with opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu to congratulate him on his victory in the recent election. “The State of Israel is above all political considerations. I wish Netanyahu success for the sake of the people of Israel and the State of Israel,” said Lapid, who instructed all branches of the Prime Minister’s Office to prepare an orderly transfer of power.

At a memorial ceremony marking 27 years since the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin, Netanyahu said: “Differences won’t disappear, and that’s fine. We have profound disagreements on a few subjects, which need to be managed with responsibility and consideration. It’s okay to argue, we don’t need to agree on everything, but at the same time we need to know what we do agree on—what most of us agree on.”

At a recent news conference, President Biden emphasized that Republicans and Democrats need to “discuss how we can work together for the remainder of this year and in the next Congress to advance the economic and national security priorities of the United States.” He went on to say: “Our democracy has been tested in recent years, but with their votes, the American people have spoken and proven once again that democracy is who we are.”

There are still plenty of issues facing this country as well as in Israel. We must unite and avoid engaging in partisan squabbles that lead to no real long-lasting progress. We need our leaders to work across the aisle to safeguard the Jewish homeland from its surrounding threats; leaders who will stand up to this rising tide of anti-Semitism. These must be leaders who will pass legislation to give hardworking citizens the best chances to prosper and succeed. We need leaders who will continue to support Ukraine in its unprovoked war against Russia and aid the millions of Ukrainian refugees who have had to flee their homeland in search of safety and health. The elections are over, and we hope that those who lead will fight for everyone. That is the democracy we cherish.

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