Voting for Bennett Is Sectoral, for Likud National
Latest update: December 27th, 2012
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Photo Credit: Miriam Alster/Flash90
It is amazing to see how the same people can be deceived time and again.
The two new stars of the Jewish Home Party, Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked – both fine and worthy people – were preparing themselves to run for a place on the Likud Knesset list. This time, though, the competition for a realistic place on the list was very tight. It was clear that the chances to get on the national list were slim. And so the well-orchestrated political exit of Bennett and Shaked – wrapped in Manhigut Yehudit terminology – was born. Their move, however, was the complete opposite of Manhigut Yehudit’s ideology. It was a patently sectoral move.
The struggle for the votes of the religious Zionists currently revolves around two parameters: Who will give more to the sector and who will better protect the land of Israel. Both of these parameters are an illusion. They divert the discussion to an irrelevant place and deflect attention from the main point of the debate. In both parameters, the advantage of a significant faith-based power base within the ruling party is clear and unequivocal. It has also proven itself well in the reality of the last four years. Real power cannot be acquired without the true integration that was expressed in the recent Likud primaries.
Why does the education minister send all Israeli students to the Cave of Machpelah in Hebron? Because of the members of the Jewish Home Party? Why does the transportation minister pave every road he can in Judea and Samaria? Because of Jewish Home MK Uri Orbach?
The above discussion is really nothing more than a smokescreen. If someone thinks that he can get more for his sector with the services of a sectoral middleman instead of with a direct and binding connection with the relevant minister – so be it. Whoever thinks that he can better protect the land of Israel from within a satellite party that is already committed to joining a coalition with the ruling party – and that has no other option – can go right ahead. Whoever has forgotten where the Jewish Home’s predecessor, the Mafdal, with its 12 mandates, was during the destruction of Sinai; how the Mafdal minister defused the political option for preventing the destruction of Gush Katif; how the Yesha Council – from where the current head of the Bayit Hayehudi came – sidelined an effective struggle against the destruction; and whoever has forgotten the entire sad history of sectoral politics, is invited to once again enjoy himself in the sectoral backyard.
The real discussion, however, revolves around a completely different point.
In a panel discussion at the Nechalim Yeshiva, Orbach asked me who would ensure that the next chief rabbi would be a Zionist – the Likud or the Mafdal? This question perfectly illuminates the two paths open now before the religious Zionist public. What is your dream? What is really important to you? A chief rabbi who sees eye to eye with you on the issues? Or a prime minister who believes in what you believe? All the other questions – like where you will get more funding (I think the answer is the Likud) – are irrelevant.
Look at yourself in the mirror and answer honestly – and then vote. But no putting your head in the sand, no buying the line that a new, improved Mafdal middleman with a secular fig leaf has suddenly morphed into the Likud and will lead the country. Ask yourself this question: What is your dream? Then choose between these next two questions: Is it leadership of the country like you were supposed to have been taught over the years? Or is it the comfort and familiarity of your sector?
What do you prefer, the chief rabbi or the prime minister? Do you believe that you have something other than religion to offer Israeli society? What is the relevance of your Torah outside your closed communities? What do you communicate about yourselves and your beliefs when you flee the Israeli reality for the fenced-in sector? What message do you project when you are afraid to present Israeli society with a leadership alternative based on your beliefs?
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What will Moshe Feiglin say when his Likud party, and the Prime Minister he so flaunts, sell the Land of Israel down the drain – that it's Bennett's fault? What will he say when his Likud party and its Prime Minister forms a coalition with the Left – that he isn't a part of the betrayal? Moshe Feiglin seems to forget that his party favors a two-state solution. When you are a part of a political party, you can't say, "My hands are clean," when it carries out its platform. It was the Likud who gave away Sinai and Gush Katif, and it's the Prime Minister of the Likud who's looking to give away Biblical Israel, and you are a part of it, Mr. Feiglin.
Let's hope Moshe can steer Likud the right way, but Bibi's Likud cannot be trusted, that's for sure.
giving away Holy Land is against the Bible and all the religion stands for. Naturally the Israel left which is run by snakes wants to do just that. I would like to see Naftali Bennett be the PM!
It was Begin who gave away the Sinai, Sharon gave away Gaza and allowed the PA self rule, not too mention the eviction from Gush Katif. What a bunch of scum bags they are. They are as foolish as they are naive & gullible.
OPPAH BIBI STYLE!
BIBI WILL DEPORT MORE JEWS FRO OUR HOME…and even with the help of the Jewish home, just like in Yamit 1982 with Hammer working with Sharon for the "peaceful clearing of Yamit"; just like in 2005 with Orlev, who sat in the government until the last moment and, WITH BIBI, made it possible to deport the Jews from the Gaza Strip.
EVERY Likud leader has deported Jews from their homes and betrayed the electorate of the Land of Israel Faithful and the National Camp.
Whoever thinks that Bibi will hesitate in deporting Jews is deluded.
The Likud has ALWAYS betrayed its electorate:
in 1977 they voted Begin and they got Dayan's line at Camp David 1979.
in 1981 they voted Begin and got Peres' line at Yamit 1982.
in 1996 they voted Bibi and got Peres line in Hebron 1997.
in 2000 they voted Sharon and got Barak's line in 2002.
in 2003 they voted Sharon and got Mitzna's line in 2005.
in 2009 they voted Bibi and IMMEDIATELY got Barak.
As Einstein said: "Mental illness is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results". And that certainly applies for those who keep on voting Likud in spite of all the precedents.
As far as Feiglin… I told him in the year 2000 what I thought: that he was deluded!
In twelve years, Feiglin's policies within the Likud have achieved only the deportation of over 10,000 Jews from our homes, the destruction of one Jewish settlement after the other, and not even his entry in the Knesset.
TWELVE YEARS!
Feiglin has cheated many good people in the National Camp for twelve years already, with the delusional belief that a pig can be kashered, if that pig is called Likud.