Arrival and election day

After some expensive drama at Heathrow airport (£90 for an extra item of luggage, despite the shameless pleading about spending an extended period of time in Israel) and then getting quizzed at Ben Gurion airport about my blue hair (I thought the security woman was going to ask me about my dad - whose birth name is 'messiah' - being born in Afghanistan, but oh no...) we arrived in Israel. We were greeted by an almighty downpour. Yes, lake Kinneret needs more water, but I wasn't planning on feeling so at home that quickly.

Luckily, my friend's cousin collected us (at 5am local time) and he took most of the bashing from the violent drenching. By the time we got back to his flat, he looked like a wet t-shirt finalist from that very tasteful 90s show 'Man Oh Man.' Perhaps you're thinking I should have more pity for him, after all he did get up at an unholy hour to receive us... but forget it. Today is election day, and in Israel that means a national bank holiday - ample time for the country to vote.

But do they? In the last election, the turnout was 63.2 per cent (the UK's stood at 61.3 per cent in 2005) but this year's numbers are expected to take a notable leap - partially due to events happening in Gaza and surrounding southern Israeli towns. Religious parties such as Shas and UTJ (United Torah Judaism) are fearful of a higher voter turnout as the surplus ballots are expected to come from secular citizens in Israel's centre (Tel Aviv, Herziliya and Givatayim all specifically mentioned by a member of Shas.)

Despite it being a 'day off' for Israelis (election day often hailed as a special shopping day due to the huge sales offered to the non-working masses) it's been more of a political 'snow day' due to the unrelenting rain. Instead of going outside to experience an Israeli general election, live, I've remained inside for most of the day, watching an Israeli political satire show called Eretz Nehederet (translated as Wonderful Country) and improving my Hebrew political vocab.

For the benefit of those who could actually leave the house today without fear of being swept into the Mediterranean, here are the highlights for your perusal:
Bechirut - election, to vote - lehatzbiya, kalfi - polling station, symbol - semel, da'ayot - opinions, shechitoot - corruption, mezeg ha'avir chara - crap weather.

Odd thought of the day - whenever a news anchor mentions Tzippi (Livni of the Kadima party) as a prospective Prime Minister, I can't help but envisage Zippy (of Rainbow fame - British reference) in a cabinet meeting, making decisions about security, technological progress and Bungle's bed time.