Like Rahm Emanuel, I went to Sarah Lawrence College, but while he was studying ballet, I was writing poetry. Now, he's slated to become among the most powerful political players in the world. One can assume that he's maintained his love for the arts in informing daily decision-making and no doubt, he'll need to be dancing swiftly through many a political firestorm, especially regarding the pointed issue of Israel and Israel-Palestinian peace.

As a public service--and also since much of his record has been distorted in the press, Lara Friedman, the able staffer who covers the Hill for Americans for Peace Now (of which I am an officer) has prepared a very useful document on Emanuel's history re Israel-Palestine. He is the son of an Israeli, and someone who knows the country intimately. The lens has been on him already. Here, however, is a clear picture:

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Tomorrow, Israelis go to the polls for municipal elections. The choices for mayor of Jerusalem are terrifying, considering that city's iconic role in the country, the region and the world. One candidate-Nir Barkat--has refashioned himself as a hard-core nationalist rightwinger and the other, Porash, is an ultra-Orthodox Jew whose community awaits the Messiah to recognize the secular legitimacy of the state of Israel. The Palestinian population-over 200,000 strong--is either disenfranchised from voting (some voting machines reportedly not even set up in Arab neighborhoods)or have disenfranchised themselves from voting as a matter of principle.

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