Likud Primaries Recommendations

Tomorrow, Monday Dec 8th marks a very important milestone in Israeli politics.

Likud members will be voting to create the "list" of who will be running on the Likud party's list in the upcoming national election.

I joined the Likud over 13 years ago through the Manhigut Yehudit faction within the Likud, out of the conviction that to lead the country, you need to be in a party that has the potential to lead. Coming from the United States, one can be a liberal Republican, a conservative Democrat, and expect that the majority party (or President from a specific party) will need to represent the entire country. In Israel, we still have a far way to go -- I recall Yitzchak Rabin's infamous comment that he is only the Prime Minister of 98% of the country -- directly implying that the settlers (and their security) were not his responsibility, nor did he view any connection to them.

The Likud should be a large party which can represent a majority of Israel's interests. Perhaps it's naive, but so should any ruling party. There should be no need for splinter self-interest groups representing "religious" or "chareidi" or "Sephardi" or "Worker" rights -- but they should be able to find a willing niche in any large party.

The smaller parties only view to influence policy, and worry about their own narrow minded self-interests, but are myopic when it comes to the "big" picture and leading the country.

With this in mind, I wanted to help be a part of leading Israel, not just "influencing".

In tomorrow's vote, you can pick 12 candidates running in the "national" slot, 2 candidates for the "immigrant" spot, and 1 candidate for a regional spot (based on your region).

Unfortunately, I can't list a total of 12 worthy candidates who would stand on their own merit -- from a political, rightwing point of view, as well as being intelligent, responsible law-makers.

Nevertheless, my list is as follows:

For the 12 "National list" candiates:

151 Moshe Feiglin. Moshe has been spearheading the Jewish leadership campaign within the Likud over the past 14 years, and I believe that this election will be a test of whether "Mahigut Yehudit" (MY) is going in the direction we hope it will.

103 Yuli Edelstein

146 Leah Ness

125 Zipi Hutabeli (comments from the Ben-Bayit blogger indicate she's a Bibi yes man. Waiting for anything to substantiate this...otherwise, many indicate she's a good choice).

106 Sagiv Asulin The MY candidate. Can't say he is the inculcation of MY's ideology, but he is running with MY's support.

163 Rubi Rivlin

142 Moshe Muskal

132 Moshe Yaalon Yaalon will get in -- the point is he needs to be ranked much higher than Dan Meridor so he can help pull Bibi rightwards away from Meridor.

104 Miki Eitan Yes, he supported the Disengagement. So did Gila Gamliel who is currently being touted by the MY list. I'd prefer Eitan (who I know personally), because I would much rather see him as Justice Minister than Meridor. Again, anything than will lower Meridor's chance of being Justice Minister is important. Miki's one of the few ariticulate and intelligent parlimentarians in the Knesset, and he does realize the mistakes of the Disengagement. (And unlike others, he really cares about helping those thrown out of their homes)

I can't bring myself to list some of the others (yet). While they did vote against the Disengagement, I can't see myself voting for some of these people.

I will not vote for knee-jerk Netanyahu yes men, even if they are religious Jews living in Yesha...which is why I'm waiting for more feedback about Tzipi Hutabili.

For the 2 Olim Spot: (the following are the MY choices)

203 Asia Antov
211 Shmuel Sackett

For the Yesha spot (if you are a Yesha resident) -- both of the following are excellent choices. I'm highlighting Hetzni, simply because he's the MY choice.

358 Boaz Haetzni (The MY candidate)
359 Yossi Fuchs

For the Jerusalem Spot (if you are a Jerusalem resident), I fully support

355 Fred Moncharsh One of the most dedicated MY supporters and a real mover/shaker for the Likud. I know Fred personally, and endorse him in the warmest of terms.


I'm open to change a bit...will be back later.

Jameel

Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד