Phone Campaign
The national "fax-and-phone campaign" to convince MKs to vote against the unilateral retreat plan, underway for the past several days, has now become a more targeted "phone campaign." Phone calls have been flooding the Knesset switchboard (02-675-3333), with citizens asking for any one of a list of about a dozen MKs who are still considered to be "wavering" regarding their vote this evening.
Among the "wavering" MKs given top priority by the organizers are Ministers Yisrael Katz, Tzachi HaNegbi, Binyamin Netanyahu and Danny Naveh, and MKs Daniel Ben-Lulu (Likud), Chemi Doron (Shinui) and David Tal (Labor). Next in priority are MKs Yaakov Edri, Mickey Eitan, Ze'ev Boim, Roni Bar-on, Inbal Gavrieli, Eli Aflalo and Yuval Shteinitz, all of the Likud; Ministers Limor Livnat and Silvan Shalom; and Victor Breilovsky (Shinui).
A more detailed list of the "targeted" MKs and their phone and fax numbers can be seen here.
Coordinated by grassroots organizations such as Cities of Israel and activists in Gush Katif, the effort has led to thousands of faxes and phone calls to key MKs. "The effect has been very positive," according to Cities of Israel spokesperson Susie Dym, "in terms of the political maneuvering... Some Yesha officials think that a few high-level meetings are all that's needed; these are very important, but what's also very important are tens of thousands of citizens on the phone and fax lines."
The volunteer callers have been provided with instructions stating, "Tell the aide or secretary who answers something like: 'My name is ___ and I would like MK ___ to vote against the unilateral withdrawal tonight.' If the aide or secretary refuses to accept your message, or insists that you have to send a fax, insist respectfully that accepting telephone messages is part of their job. If you get an answering machine, leave a message - but not a long one. If you get returned to the switchboard, that means the MK you asked for is engaged. Simply ask for the next MK on your list. Don't use email; it is not effective enough."
The national "fax-and-phone campaign" to convince MKs to vote against the unilateral retreat plan, underway for the past several days, has now become a more targeted "phone campaign." Phone calls have been flooding the Knesset switchboard (02-675-3333), with citizens asking for any one of a list of about a dozen MKs who are still considered to be "wavering" regarding their vote this evening.
Among the "wavering" MKs given top priority by the organizers are Ministers Yisrael Katz, Tzachi HaNegbi, Binyamin Netanyahu and Danny Naveh, and MKs Daniel Ben-Lulu (Likud), Chemi Doron (Shinui) and David Tal (Labor). Next in priority are MKs Yaakov Edri, Mickey Eitan, Ze'ev Boim, Roni Bar-on, Inbal Gavrieli, Eli Aflalo and Yuval Shteinitz, all of the Likud; Ministers Limor Livnat and Silvan Shalom; and Victor Breilovsky (Shinui).
A more detailed list of the "targeted" MKs and their phone and fax numbers can be seen here.
Coordinated by grassroots organizations such as Cities of Israel and activists in Gush Katif, the effort has led to thousands of faxes and phone calls to key MKs. "The effect has been very positive," according to Cities of Israel spokesperson Susie Dym, "in terms of the political maneuvering... Some Yesha officials think that a few high-level meetings are all that's needed; these are very important, but what's also very important are tens of thousands of citizens on the phone and fax lines."
The volunteer callers have been provided with instructions stating, "Tell the aide or secretary who answers something like: 'My name is ___ and I would like MK ___ to vote against the unilateral withdrawal tonight.' If the aide or secretary refuses to accept your message, or insists that you have to send a fax, insist respectfully that accepting telephone messages is part of their job. If you get an answering machine, leave a message - but not a long one. If you get returned to the switchboard, that means the MK you asked for is engaged. Simply ask for the next MK on your list. Don't use email; it is not effective enough."