Words of Acceptance by
Adv. Michael Partem, Vice Chairman
Movement for Quality Government in Israel
On the Occasion of Transparency International Bestowing The Integrity Award
On The Movement For Quality Government In Israel
Berlin, Germany
November 11, 2005
I am proud and privileged to stand before you tonight and represent the Movement for Quality Government In Israel. I accept Transparency International's Integrity Award for 2005 on behalf of the thousands of members, the hundreds of volunteers, our superb staff, the Board of Director's and last but certainly not least the Movement's Chairman and Founder, Eliad Shraga, who 15 years ago as a young red-headed attorney decided that government mismanagement in Israel could no longer be tolerated, pitched a tent outside the President's Residence in Jerusalem, went on a hunger strike for better government and in doing so founded the Movement for Quality Government in Israel.
For the past 15 years the Movement has not only engaged in a constant struggle with authority over instances of corruption and government malfeasance but we have had to work very hard to make that transition from a band of slightly insane volunteers (meshuganas - we would call them) into a structured organization of dedicated professionals.
Our greatest asset is our total independence and lack of partisanship. We will not take any government or political money; and we must also take care to diversify our private contributions. Therefore we must also thank those individuals and organizations who have provided financial support - without any strings attached. Since we are in Germany I take great pleasure in singling out the Hans Zeidel Stiftung which has worked with us for many years on a variety of very worthwhile projects.
Any organization such as hours has many unsung heros and I would like to mention a debt of gratitude that we owe to 2 of our founders and board members whose early and untimely deaths have left a great void. Dror Greenfield and Zeev Lifshitz, of blessed memory, who would have been so happy to celebrate with us on this occasion.
It is an overwhelmingly positive experience for the organization and for myself personally, having toiled so many years almost entirely by ourselves, to discover that we are not alone in this universe and to realize how common is the human desire for better government. To be in such august and eminent company tonight, I am experiencing much of the same positive energy that I feel at our own annual award ceremony given to "Champions of Quality Government in Israel" and last year attended by nearly 3,000 people and broadcast live on TV at the old Roman amphitheatre in Ceasarea. These are the good vibrations of being among friends who have come to celebrate their dedication to a common cause.
In the Book of Exodus in the Bible it is written that God says to Moses: "Thou shalt take no bribe: for the bribe blinds the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous" (ושחד לא תקח כי השחד יעור פקחים ויסלף דברי צדיקים) (Exodus 23.8). The verse speaks not of the ordinary person but of the righteous man and the sage. From this we can learn that neither the wise nor the righteous is fully immune to the temptations of corruption. No Solomon or Saint can keep his hands clean when everywhere there is dirt. The lesson is that we need rules, regulations and above all vigilance. It is not enough to elect the best possible candidate or appoint the most highly qualified individual (although these are certainly very helpful). Good government requires constant effort. This is a difficult burden for any one individual.
The award given to the Movement recognizes the importance of civil associations and watchdog organizations in this process of vigilance. With all the problems that we face in Israel, the strengthening of civil society over the past decade has been a decidedly positive trend.
I have been asked about the ultimate goals of our organization. This is a very tricky question. But I will try and once again to put in succinct form. It is supremely crucial to know that there are free elections and you can vote out a corrupt official , and that the rule of law can be enforced through the courts .These are fundamental pillars of a democracy and one should always strive for their attainment. However these are not sufficient and we need to add another layer of vigilance: every elected and public official must know that citizens are watching, that there is a Movement for Quality Government and that people are not content to wait another four years or just complain to their neighbor.
In walking here in Berlin I was positively delighted to come across in huge letters written on the outside wall of the very seat of executive power here in Germany, the Bundeskanzleram, a quote from Albert Einstien: "Der Staat ist fur die Menschen und nicht die Menschen fur den Staat" (The State is for the People and Not the People for the State") Our role is to make certain, as much as we can, that this is not just lip service but that every public official understands and respects – at all times - the trust given to him by the people.
Thank you and Shabbat Shalom,
Adv. Michael Partem
Words of Acceptance by
Adv. Michael Partem, Vice Chairman
Movement for Quality Government in Israel
On the Occasion of Transparency International Bestowing The Integrity Award
On The Movement For Quality Government In Israel
Berlin, Germany
November 11, 2005
I am proud and privileged to stand before you tonight and represent the Movement for Quality Government In Israel. I accept Transparency International's Integrity Award for 2005 on behalf of the thousands of members, the hundreds of volunteers, our superb staff, the Board of Director's and last but certainly not least the Movement's Chairman and Founder, Eliad Shraga, who 15 years ago as a young red-headed attorney decided that government mismanagement in Israel could no longer be tolerated, pitched a tent outside the President's Residence in Jerusalem, went on a hunger strike for better government and in doing so founded the Movement for Quality Government in Israel.
For the past 15 years the Movement has not only engaged in a constant struggle with authority over instances of corruption and government malfeasance but we have had to work very hard to make that transition from a band of slightly insane volunteers (meshuganas - we would call them) into a structured organization of dedicated professionals.
Our greatest asset is our total independence and lack of partisanship. We will not take any government or political money; and we must also take care to diversify our private contributions. Therefore we must also thank those individuals and organizations who have provided financial support - without any strings attached. Since we are in Germany I take great pleasure in singling out the Hans Zeidel Stiftung which has worked with us for many years on a variety of very worthwhile projects.
Any organization such as hours has many unsung heros and I would like to mention a debt of gratitude that we owe to 2 of our founders and board members whose early and untimely deaths have left a great void. Dror Greenfield and Zeev Lifshitz, of blessed memory, who would have been so happy to celebrate with us on this occasion.
It is an overwhelmingly positive experience for the organization and for myself personally, having toiled so many years almost entirely by ourselves, to discover that we are not alone in this universe and to realize how common is the human desire for better government. To be in such august and eminent company tonight, I am experiencing much of the same positive energy that I feel at our own annual award ceremony given to "Champions of Quality Government in Israel" and last year attended by nearly 3,000 people and broadcast live on TV at the old Roman amphitheatre in Ceasarea. These are the good vibrations of being among friends who have come to celebrate their dedication to a common cause.
In the Book of Exodus in the Bible it is written that God says to Moses: "Thou shalt take no bribe: for the bribe blinds the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous" (ושחד לא תקח כי השחד יעור פקחים ויסלף דברי צדיקים) (Exodus 23.8). The verse speaks not of the ordinary person but of the righteous man and the sage. From this we can learn that neither the wise nor the righteous is fully immune to the temptations of corruption. No Solomon or Saint can keep his hands clean when everywhere there is dirt. The lesson is that we need rules, regulations and above all vigilance. It is not enough to elect the best possible candidate or appoint the most highly qualified individual (although these are certainly very helpful). Good government requires constant effort. This is a difficult burden for any one individual.
The award given to the Movement recognizes the importance of civil associations and watchdog organizations in this process of vigilance. With all the problems that we face in Israel, the strengthening of civil society over the past decade has been a decidedly positive trend.
I have been asked about the ultimate goals of our organization. This is a very tricky question. But I will try and once again to put in succinct form. It is supremely crucial to know that there are free elections and you can vote out a corrupt official , and that the rule of law can be enforced through the courts .These are fundamental pillars of a democracy and one should always strive for their attainment. However these are not sufficient and we need to add another layer of vigilance: every elected and public official must know that citizens are watching, that there is a Movement for Quality Government and that people are not content to wait another four years or just complain to their neighbor.
In walking here in Berlin I was positively delighted to come across in huge letters written on the outside wall of the very seat of executive power here in Germany, the Bundeskanzleram, a quote from Albert Einstien: "Der Staat ist fur die Menschen und nicht die Menschen fur den Staat" (The State is for the People and Not the People for the State") Our role is to make certain, as much as we can, that this is not just lip service but that every public official understands and respects – at all times - the trust given to him by the people.
Thank you and Shabbat Shalom,
Adv. Michael Partem