Netanyahu's Challenge

Despite the echelons and media of Israel who outright bemoan that "right wing" people make up the Likud's list for the upcoming elections, Israel's public seems impervious to the lambasting criticism. In fact, in national polls done after the Likud election results were announced, the Likud has either stayed the same in terms of electoral seats in the Knesset, or even gained a seat.

It's clear that the people of Israel want a right-wing government, a right-wing Likud, or at a minimum, they aren't scared off by leftist yollering that the country is doomed if Moshe Feiglin and those who rejected Sharon's Disengagement plan are in the Knesset.

The problem is Netanyahu.

Instead of bothering to read the Likud's pro-Eretz Yisrael platform, or respect the will of the Likud membership, he is trying every dirty trick possible to ensure Moshe Feiglin is evicted from the Likud's list -- or at least relegated to a spot where his Knesset entry would be unlikely.

If Netanyahu, G-d forbid, succeeds in removing Feiglin from the #20 spot on the Likud's list, my prediction for the Likud is dire.

Right now, the Likud has an excellent list of candidates. Were Netanyahu to continue to his attempts to oust Feiglin, I predict he will lose support to the tune of the Likud's majority over Labor and Kadima.

Netanyahu: Just accept the fact that Feiglin's #20 on your list, and join forces to win the election. Pandering to the left and the media will seriously backfire.

Additional Links to ponder:

Ben-Chorin's post primaries analysis and how Netanyahu will try to force Feiglin off the list.
Netanyahu attempts to oust Feiglin at all costs. (YNET)

Lastly, this sycophantic op-ed article from Efrat Shapira-Rosenberg (Stop the Occupation).

If we go back a few decades, we'll see that the members of religious Zionism were raised on the principle of "integration." Most of us, who grew up in mixed cities, in religious high schools and in the Bnei Akiva youth movement, were brought up to study a profession and assimilate into the state's institutions: The army, the legal system, academia, various commercial companies, etc. To integrate out of a desire to be part of the Zionist project called the State of Israel.

We were not sent on a jihadist mission to make a point to someone or to spread a message. But simply to fit in, to be equal-right partners, to build something together and to bring to this "togetherness" our own special ingredients.

What Shapira-Rosenberg fails to realize is that the "religious Zionist" movement in Israel is not seen as an equal partner (nor has it ever been). While she may like to naively believe that religious Zionism is accepted as equal right partners, the fact of the mater is totally the opposite. Religious Zionist schools in Israel cost a fortune compared to regular Israeli -- both secular public schools and Chareidi Ultra Orthodox schools. Only the "religious Zionists" are politely not given the same funding (despite paying equal taxes as secular, working parents, and despite serving in the IDF).

In fact, if Shapira-Rosenberg thought about Feiglin in the Likud for more than a knee-jerk reactionary second, she would realize that the ideal place for national-religious politicians is IN the Likud! Where else can we help lead the country? Shape the country's future? From a NRP Beni Akiva snif in Givat Shmuel?

We are not embarrassed to say we want to lead Israel.

Shapira-Rosenberg's scary diatribe against us is a result of shame and programming that religious Zionists are not meant to lead, but be led.

PS: For those of you who want to read more about Moshe Feiglin's actual answers to questions -- its all here at ynetnews (and in English). On the Hebrew ynet article, there are over 700 talkbacks, the vast majority of them are positive.

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