What else matters to Israelis?

We will of course talk with Israelis about their relations with the Palestinians. But this is also an opportunity to hear what other issues matter to people here. If you’ve questions on other aspects of Israelis’ lives and beliefs, let us know and we’ll do our best to get you answers.

Your advice to the new Israeli government

In Jerusalem on Tuesday, we’ll have a group of Israelis on WHYS who will have just voted. I’m looking for specific practical suggestions of what you’d like the new government to do for it to contribute to Israel, the region and the world in a way that you feel will benefit us all? And while polemic and history both have their place, for this post let’s stick to policy and actions, and be as specific as you can.

Meet Avignor Lieberman

He’s the leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party and is having a serious impact on this election. He’s demanding that all Israelis – including Arabs – declare loyalty to Israel as a Jewish state. Sound reasonable? As he’s sitting in third in the polls, ahead of the once mighty Labor Party, a lot of Israelis believe so.

Would you want this kind of government?

Proportional representation undoubtedly shares power in a completely different way to first past the post. The permutations of coalition building, and policy trading are detailed in mind-boggling length in this morning’s papers. PR also completely alters the way politicians deal with each other.

Israel decides

Israelis go to the polls to decide their new government next Tuesday. There’s a lot at stake, not only for Israelis and for Palestinians, but for the entire Middle East and wider world. WHYS will be live from Tel Aviv on Monday, and from Jerusalem on election day, putting you in touch with Israelis and hearing from them at this pivotal time.

On air: Should sex offenders be castrated?

Europe’s leading human rights body has criticised the Czech Republic for continuing to surgically castrate male sex offenders. The Council of Europe claims castrations had sometimes been performed without warnings of side effects and on men not capable of making an informed decision. In the past ten years 94 castrations have been carried out and a further 300 Czech men have undergone chemical castration since 2000.

Talking Points 6 February

It’s a big week for elections in the Middle East.

The Iraqi elections were “ the most boring event in Iraq since the war” according to this blogger. Nouri al-Maliki has emerged as the winner of the provincial elections. Improved security and peaceful elections have strengthened the Prime Minister’s popularity. Is this the first sign of Iraq becoming a true democracy? Good news for Iraq but is the real winner the US?

On air: Your Questions to a “former terrorist”

We’re going to be joined for the whole programme by Walid Shoebat – who describes himself as a former terrorist. He says, “Islam has one goal and it is to overthrow all western cultures”……”Islam sees Sharia law as the only acceptable law”.

Talking Points 5 February

Public and Private Space

Carol Thatcher, the daughter of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has been sacked from her reporter job at the BBC for using the word “golliwog” when referring to a tennis player. The story has certainly kicked off a storm here in the UK. Miss Thatcher used the term off air when talking to production staff after the programme. She said that the comment was not made for public broadcast and was meant to be humorous. This article believes that it is not treating someone as an equal if you think you have to guard your tongue in their presence. So can you no longer have private conversations at work? How safe is it to tell a joke? Are there degrees of offense?

On-air: Should the banks be nationalised ?

We’ve got a team in Paris today – they’ll broadcast from a place overlooking the Place de la Republique  –  the big, open square is where French protesters gather for demos.

 A million-plus people were marching on the streets of the capital last week and one of the chief reasons for their anger ; the banks.