Party head MK Binyamin Elon spoke about the unreliability of political polls that purport to show a sweeping victory for Kadima and the left, despite Kadima’s precipitous slide over the past few weeks. Elon said the expected turnout of over 90% of voters who support the National Union/NRP could turn the tide.
MK Aryeh Eldad summarized the meeting, saying that a large portion of Israel was worshipping a “golden calf” which he called Kadima. But he said there was cause for optimism.
Referring to Ehud Olmert, serving as Acting Prime Minister since the stroke of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Eldad said, “Olmert is not Sharon.”
“The public followed Sharon with its eyes closed, remembering his achievements - Unit 101, and the Yom Kippur War - but Olmert has none of these. The public will not follow him. Similarly, after the Hamas victory in the PA [Palestinian Authority] election, the public has lost the illusion of making peace with [PA chief] Abu Mazen, and realizes that every yard of withdrawal just brings Hamas terrorists closer,” Eldad said.
To illustrate his point, Eldad noted that just this past week, the Knesset finished reinforcing its roof against the possibility of a Kassam rocket being launched from Jerusalem’s Arab neighborhoods. He claims that Olmert is planning to withdraw from parts of Jerusalem populated by Arabs.
Rabbi Nadiv Turgeman, former rabbi of the Tel Katifa community in Gush Katif, said it was appropriate to emphasize nationalistic issues in Kiryat Malachi, a low-income community, beset with economic hardship. He said it was important to recall the destruction of Gush Katif and northern Samaria and the dangers posed by further withdrawals.
National Union volunteers campaigning in Kiryat Malachi said they were shocked at the town’s poverty. They reported that many town residents expressed disillusionment with the country’s big parties and their empty promises for improving their economic plight. Party activists said many residents indicated a willingness to shift their support to the National Union/NRP party.
Rabbi Asher Binyamini, rabbi of the Neria community in the Galilee, spoke about the need to maintain Jewish rule in the land of Israel and emphasized the Talmudic dictum: “A person who dwells outside the land of Israel lives as if he has no G-d.” He explained that the rule applies even when the land of Israel is ruled by non-Jews.
Rabbi Shimon Lapid of the Ohr Etzion yeshiva emphasized the importance of Torah Jews taking part in the election campaign, saying “is this the time to sit at home when our home may face destruction?”
MK Aryeh Eldad summarized the meeting, saying that a large portion of Israel was worshipping a “golden calf” which he called Kadima. But he said there was cause for optimism.
Referring to Ehud Olmert, serving as Acting Prime Minister since the stroke of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Eldad said, “Olmert is not Sharon.”
“The public followed Sharon with its eyes closed, remembering his achievements - Unit 101, and the Yom Kippur War - but Olmert has none of these. The public will not follow him. Similarly, after the Hamas victory in the PA [Palestinian Authority] election, the public has lost the illusion of making peace with [PA chief] Abu Mazen, and realizes that every yard of withdrawal just brings Hamas terrorists closer,” Eldad said.
To illustrate his point, Eldad noted that just this past week, the Knesset finished reinforcing its roof against the possibility of a Kassam rocket being launched from Jerusalem’s Arab neighborhoods. He claims that Olmert is planning to withdraw from parts of Jerusalem populated by Arabs.
Rabbi Nadiv Turgeman, former rabbi of the Tel Katifa community in Gush Katif, said it was appropriate to emphasize nationalistic issues in Kiryat Malachi, a low-income community, beset with economic hardship. He said it was important to recall the destruction of Gush Katif and northern Samaria and the dangers posed by further withdrawals.
National Union volunteers campaigning in Kiryat Malachi said they were shocked at the town’s poverty. They reported that many town residents expressed disillusionment with the country’s big parties and their empty promises for improving their economic plight. Party activists said many residents indicated a willingness to shift their support to the National Union/NRP party.
Rabbi Asher Binyamini, rabbi of the Neria community in the Galilee, spoke about the need to maintain Jewish rule in the land of Israel and emphasized the Talmudic dictum: “A person who dwells outside the land of Israel lives as if he has no G-d.” He explained that the rule applies even when the land of Israel is ruled by non-Jews.
Rabbi Shimon Lapid of the Ohr Etzion yeshiva emphasized the importance of Torah Jews taking part in the election campaign, saying “is this the time to sit at home when our home may face destruction?”