Israelis who will cue up at the polls to vote in municipal elections all over the country on Tuesday can access data on how mayoral candidates voted when Ariel Sharon's government was planning the Disengagement from Jewish Gaza and Northern Samaria in 2005.



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Susie Dym of the pro-Israel Zionist organization Mattot Arim (Cities of Israel), urged voters to be at least as concerned with candidates' positions on future land giveaways as they are with their plans for sewage and building, in an interview with Tamar Yonah on Israel National Radio's Weekend Edition program.

It seems that the most important issue for most cities in Israel is whether the mayor is going to protect them from a Palestinian state.

"Some people will tell you that the only thing that matters with a mayor is how he deals with the sewage or with the building necessary parking lots," Dym said.  "However, as we all know, the worst thing to happen if the sewage isn't working is that you get a little bit wet. The worst thing that can happen if there is not enough parking, is that you can get a parking ticket.  The worst thing that can happen, if a Palestinian State is established, and your city is within rocket range, is that G-d forbid, you can lose your family member or your life.  So to us, it seems that the most important issue for most cities in Israel, is whether the mayor is going to protect them from a Palestinian State.  The first thing we look at is whether candidates have a record in the past, of opposing territorial concessions to the Palestinian terrorists."

Dym told Yonah that Israeli mayors have regulatory and financial powers, access to Knesset Members and political party members, and should therefore be considered as allies – or enemies - in the battle to maintain Jewish life in various parts of the Land of Israel.

Dym is endorsing Meir Porush over Nir Barkat and Arcadi Gaydamak for the Jerusalem mayorship.  Some of the other candidates Mattot Arim is endorsing are Uri Buskila for Bat Yam, Shalom Lerner for Beit Shemesh, Yaron Olami for Herzlia, and Gidon Ariel for Maaleh Adumim

To hear the full interview with Susie Dym, click here.