Shamir Told Me: Future of State is Religious, Hareidim

Chairman Yisrael Eichler of the United Torah Judaism faction in the Knesset reacted, Sunday, to the death of former prime minister Yitzchak Shamir by noting, "Yitzchak Shamir was a commander of the Lech"i [Lochamei Cherut Yisrael-Fighters for the Freedom of Israel militia -ed.] who fought against the British government and against Ben-Gurion and the Hagana [militia]. There was a Jewish group within Lech"i that earned an amount of respect not surpassed by the Hagana."

Eichler recounted, "Twenty years agoI met with himprivately.He said 'The future ofthe country is the religious and hareidi-religious.Our young peopleare disconnectedfrom the ideaof Israeland attach themselves tothe left orleave the country or revertto the level of crime.The burden ofdefenseand nationalism willfallon the shoulders ofyoungreligious and hareidigeneration andyou needto prepare for this.'I toldhim it was theadmission by a partywhopassed [the responsibility of]education of his childrento 'state' schools, that hecutthenationalwing on which he hadbuilt the state.Ifwe send [the responsibility for] our childrento the secular 'state',there won't remain a Jewish people, Heaven forbid, and there will notbea Jewish state."