February 16, 1996
Web posted at:3:45 p.m. EST (2045 GMT)
From Correspondent Jerrold Kessel
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- For years, the make-up of Israel's population has been heavily influenced by the influx of Jewish immigrants from around the world. But now, one nationality in particular is poised to influence the country's political make-up.
From a modest start, Russian-Jewish immigrants are hoping to emerge as a crucial force in the upcoming Israeli parliamentary elections.
Exactly a decade ago, Anatoly Sharansky, one of the Soviet Union's best-known civil rights dissidents, walked free -- and into Israel -- after 10 years in Soviet prisons. At the time, mainstream Israeli political parties wanted his popularity on their side.
Sharansky declined. And now known by his Hebrew name Natan, Sharansky is challenging the political establishment.
"The time has come to deal seriously with the issue of building the people of Israel," he said, "to return to the basis of Zionism and gathering in of exiles." (153K AIFF sound or 153K WAV sound)
Last year, Sharansky announced the launching of a new party in Israeli politics -- the Israel Aliya Party (aliya is the Jewish law of return, calling for Jews to immigrate to Israel). In recent years, almost 600,000 have arrived from the former Soviet Union, creating a potentially strong voting block.
"The Russians can really make a big difference to either right or left," said Edward Kusnetzov, editor of one of five Russian language daily newspapers in Israel. (170K AIFF sound 170K WAV sound)
Though they're originally from all the former Soviet republics, they are known in Israel as the Russians. Sharansky's party plans to capitalize on the immigrants' grievances, such as housing, job opportunities and -- above all -- acceptance by fellow Israelis.
Although Israel is very much a country of immigrants, parties appealing to a specific group of immigrants have traditionally fared badly. In this critical election, however, the Russian immigrant politicians are hoping to turn that political truism on its head.
Both major contenders for prime minister -- Labor's Shimon Peres and the right-wing Benjamin Netanyahu -- are focusing on the key issues of peace and security. Both say the election will determine Israel's political direction into the next century.
But Sharansky believes the emphasis should be elsewhere.
"We propose not to postpone the other issues ... as it was in the last 20, 30,40 years," he said. "We are hoping to contribute to a real social revolution."
Sharansky is keenly intent on shaping the strategic game plan, and the prevailing view in Israel is that he has a good chance of making that contribution. But others feel a separate party will serve neither the immigrants nor the rest of the country's population.
But the immigrants disagree.
"I love Shimon Peres ..." said one woman, "but it'll be good to have one of our own representing us."
Elections may be three months from now, but the arguments are already in full flow.
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