A week before the January 22 elections, representatives of the eight largest
political parties running for Knesset will face off before the English- speaking
public at The Jerusalem Great Synagogue on Wednesday night.
Israel
Election 2013, co-sponsored by The Jerusalem Post and the Association of
Americans and Canadians in Israel (AACI), has drawn hundreds of attendees to its
three previous debates held over the past two weeks in Netanya, Tel Aviv and
Ra’anana.
Well over 1,000 people, including members of the foreign and
local media, are expected at Wednesday’s pinnacle event, moderated by the Post’s
editor in-chief, Steve Linde.
The debate will feature Yuli Edelstein from
Likud Beytenu, Isaac Herzog from Labor, Naftali Bennett from Bayit Yehudi, Meir
Sheetrit from The Tzipi Livni Party, Aryeh Eldad from Strong Israel, Dov Lipman
from Yesh Atid, Menahem Shemtov from Shas and Laura Wharton from
Meretz.
“With the elections looming, it’s more important then ever for
the public to hear the candidates and engage them on critical issues,” said
Linde.
“The candidates will first be asked to present their parties’
platforms. We will then open it up to the floor, and we have microphones on both
floors of the Great Synagogue for audience members to ask short questions.
Finally, each speaker will be given an opportunity to sum up. It promises to be
a great debate,” he added.
The event begins at 8 p.m. with welcoming
remarks from Great Synagogue chairman Asher Schapiro and AACI executive director
David London.
Journalists are encouraged to attend. The public is urged
to arrive early to ensure the event begins on time. Entrance is free of charge.
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