Married with three children under the age of 4, Lior and his wife live in Kibbutz Netzer Sireni, near Ramle.
Arutz-7 spoke with him today about his choice of party, and whether Sharon's ascendancy indicates the end of Israeli democracy. Excerpts:
A-7: "Can you tell me, how does it work? You get up one morning and decide that you want to be a Knesset Member, offer to join Kadima, and they give you a number on their Knesset list? After all, the polls predict 40 Knesset seats, but there aren't yet 40 Knesset candidates."
Carmel: "Obviously not, since there are five million adults in Israel - not everyone can join... The strategy of Kadima is to choose the best in every field. We all agree on the political platform, which is that concessions will have to be made, and we all agree that social infrastructures must be improved, etc., and in the other areas, the party seeks to find the best in each field. I dare say that I am an expert in youth affairs, and I will advance youth-related issues."
A-7: "Do you know what number you will be on the party's list of Knesset candidates?"
Carmel: "Believe me, that doesn't concern me at all."
A-7: "But it was clear that you will be in the Knesset."
Carmel: "Yes, that was agreed."
Carmel said that he had spoken not only to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, but also to two or three Kadima MKs and some advisors.
A-7: "The polls currently show that Kadima will receive 40 Knesset seats, give or take. How do you feel about the fact that if nothing changes drastically, one man will single-handedly determine the make-up of a third of the Knesset? Isn't this a major breach of the democratic values that you so dearly cherish?"
Carmel: "It's not Sharon that will determine, but rather the public on Election Day. The people are not voting for one man, but for the party. The public is smart and intelligent, and hopefully will decide to give Kadima at least 40 MKs. After the election, we will begin building democratic party organs."
A-7: "But as of now, Kadima doesn't even have 40 candidates with whom to fill its list; Sharon is merely searching around. So in comes someone like you, with a positive record and reputation in youth work, and he says, 'Great, you'll be number 30; next!' It's not as if you and the others will be able to differ with him; he has shown that he does not listen to his party - such as when the Likud voted against the disengagement, and in other issues. Certainly now, with new MKs who owe him their seat, how will you be able to have any influence?"
Carmel: "In my talks with Sharon and with the others, there were some things that I did not agree on, and I took home some food for thought, and I hope that he did the same... We saw that regarding Gaza, Sharon himself changed his mind [in promoting the withdrawal]; this means that he is willing to listen to others. At the same time, the Likud was a party in ideological crisis, and therefore the decision went to the Knesset -
A-7: - even though he had said that he would follow the party's decision -
Carmel: - and personally, I can say that if I feel that things are not being run [democratically], I'll leave..."
A-7: "You said that the people will decide. Isn't it true that there have been cases in fairly recent history where the people voted democratically and ended up bringing a dictator to power, in Germany, for instance?"
Carmel: "Woah, Germany?!"
A-7: "Are we not allowed to mention Germany?"
Carmel: "... In the U.S., the President appoints his own Cabinet ministers, and is involved in the appointment of judges..."
A-7: "Do you think the American people would accept a situation in which the President appoints a third, or a tenth, of the U.S. Senate? ... Do you not feel that you are giving up that which you feel is the most important value, that of democracy? You and the others in Kadima are becoming the foot-soldiers and water-carriers who will enable one man, with a history of acting very strong-armedly, to determine things such as what painful concessions have to be made. [Former Minister] Tzachi HaNegbi said, when he joined Kadima, that he personally opposes further unilateral measures, but that if Sharon decides differently, he will accept that. The theme of many in Kadima seems to be that you trust Sharon."
Carmel: "...I see that we don't agree... But we do agree on one thing - the importance of youth and their contribution."