If I were a member of the Histadrut, Israel's labour federation, there's no doubt in my mind as to who I would be voting for in the upcoming leadership elections: the Likud's Leon Benlulu. Not that I have any idea who he is or what he stands for, but there's one item of his manifesto that stands out: If elected, Mr Benlulu promises, the Histadrut's senior leadership will stop wearing suits and ties. His aides told the Yediot Ahronot newspaper that "this habit of Histadrut leaders turning up for meetings in suits and ties is simply not appropriate for the leaders of a workers' organisation". Unfortunately, Mr Benlulu is unlikely to win, but he has a serious point. Over the past two decades, wearing a tie has become a must for any politician who wants to be taken seriously in Israel. Gone are the days of Yitzhak Rabin needing help to knot his tie during a visit to the White House and today, Israelis are more likely than bankers in the City of London to be found wearing a tie, despite the searing summer heat here. It's time for a return to the days of Ben-Gurion and the open-necked shirt (although not with the shirt collar being folded over the jacket collar!)
This post was written by Jeff Barak
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