Now that Ariel Sharon has thankfully left the Likud, the move to unite the right-wing parties into one big, gigantic, powerful bloc is gaining even more momentum. Let there be no mistake about it; Manhigut Yehudit, led by Moshe Feiglin, is in clear support of such a move. A united right-wing bloc is exactly what is needed in these days of darkness and confusion. Polls show such a united bloc would double the number of Knesset seats currently held by these individual parties. This double strength would allow the right-wing to swing things in their direction and help prevent further disengagements and betrayals.
While Manhigut Yehudit supports this united front and encourages its creation, it will not join it. Allow me to explain.
Right-wing parties talk about a lot of things, but never about leadership. They build settlements, create a positive nationalist environment for our youth, support a strong and proud IDF and work hard at ending suicidal peace deals. These are all very important issues and they are to be commended for their efforts and achievements. The problem is not what they do, it is what they do not do.
Throughout the years, the right-wing has accepted the secular -- and often anti-Jewish -- leadership of the State of Israel. While they have worked hard on behalf of their constituency, they have always done it from a non-leadership perspective. They were happy being education minister or housing minister or tourism minister, and never had the desire to hold the ultimate job - prime minister of the State of Israel.
This is what led Moshe Feiglin, Motti Carpel and me to create Manhigut Yehudit. The first word of our movement's name is manhigut and that is what we are all about: leadership. While we support the building of settlements (all three of us live in them), fight hard against criminal "peace" deals, dream of an IDF that fights like the army of Joshua and King David, and educate our children to be both religious and nationalist, that is not our main focus.
Our goal is to lead Israel. The flag we wave is Jewish identity and values, and our "field of play" is Israel's leadership party - the Likud. By no means do we want to take away anything from the right-wing parties, but, by the same token, we must explain exactly who we are and what we dream about.
We want to lead Israel. Our mission statement is: Turning the state of the Jews into the Jewish State.
And this cannot be done when you are inside a "right-wing" party. Don't get me wrong; great things can be accomplished from the Right -- which is why we support a strong and united bloc -- but leadership of the State is not one of them.
Let me take this one step further. Supporting both Manhigut Yehudit and a united right-wing is not contradictory. Our groups are not mutually exclusive. Much of what we do is similar and a coordinated struggle would benefit the Nation of Israel. A Likud party led by Prime Minister Moshe Feiglin and a united right-wing bloc would make natural coalition partners, and would be Israel's version of the "Dream Team".
Let's pray this becomes a reality.
While Manhigut Yehudit supports this united front and encourages its creation, it will not join it. Allow me to explain.
Right-wing parties talk about a lot of things, but never about leadership. They build settlements, create a positive nationalist environment for our youth, support a strong and proud IDF and work hard at ending suicidal peace deals. These are all very important issues and they are to be commended for their efforts and achievements. The problem is not what they do, it is what they do not do.
Throughout the years, the right-wing has accepted the secular -- and often anti-Jewish -- leadership of the State of Israel. While they have worked hard on behalf of their constituency, they have always done it from a non-leadership perspective. They were happy being education minister or housing minister or tourism minister, and never had the desire to hold the ultimate job - prime minister of the State of Israel.
This is what led Moshe Feiglin, Motti Carpel and me to create Manhigut Yehudit. The first word of our movement's name is manhigut and that is what we are all about: leadership. While we support the building of settlements (all three of us live in them), fight hard against criminal "peace" deals, dream of an IDF that fights like the army of Joshua and King David, and educate our children to be both religious and nationalist, that is not our main focus.
Our goal is to lead Israel. The flag we wave is Jewish identity and values, and our "field of play" is Israel's leadership party - the Likud. By no means do we want to take away anything from the right-wing parties, but, by the same token, we must explain exactly who we are and what we dream about.
We want to lead Israel. Our mission statement is: Turning the state of the Jews into the Jewish State.
And this cannot be done when you are inside a "right-wing" party. Don't get me wrong; great things can be accomplished from the Right -- which is why we support a strong and united bloc -- but leadership of the State is not one of them.
Let me take this one step further. Supporting both Manhigut Yehudit and a united right-wing is not contradictory. Our groups are not mutually exclusive. Much of what we do is similar and a coordinated struggle would benefit the Nation of Israel. A Likud party led by Prime Minister Moshe Feiglin and a united right-wing bloc would make natural coalition partners, and would be Israel's version of the "Dream Team".
Let's pray this becomes a reality.