Arutz-7's Haggai Segal spoke today with Moshe Feiglin, head of the Jewish Leadership faction:
A-7: So, you only reached 41..
MF: It's certainly a realistic spot, considering that two MKs are already wavering and considering leaving, and the polls are speaking of more than 41 seats. But beyond this, when I look at the overall picture and the general direction that we are striving for, I am very pleased.
A-7: As something of an expert on the Likud Central Committee, can you explain please, how is it that a candidate like you, quite famous, who invested a lot, and who is known to everyone, reaches place 41, while unknowns like Danny Ben-Lulu and Moshe Kachlon are in 20 and 26?
MF: This phenomenon of a movement that is ideological and independent, and that has growing strength - our bloc is the largest in the Likud's Central Committee - is [very significant], and the truth is scary [to the party leaders].
A-7: Are you saying that you were on "hit lists?"
MF: Of course I was; it was in the media. I was the star of the "hit lists," which included not only siphoning off votes towards Hazan - he himself wouldn't have received anything on his own… - but also much worse than that, things that bordered on the criminal… In the end, this force that so scares them still managed to reach this realistic slot. Retroactively, it's possible that it could even be a positive development - I emphasize: retroactively - in that we have not taken the party by storm, which could boomerang against us… We have set our goals, we are ideological and independent, and at the same time our strength is increasing slowly but surely."
A-7: You will now call on the public to vote for a party [the Likud] whose leader supports a Palestinian state?
MF: It's good that you said that its leader supports a Palestinian state, because the party itself does not, according to its charter and membership... Of course, there's always the option of everyone building himself his own little lighthouse and calling out our truths from all sorts of small non-influential parties - but everyone today realizes that the only way to truly influence anything now is through this party, and we therefore must continue to work and grow within this party… Yes, I am continuing to register new members for the Likud, to call on people to vote for the Likud, work within the Likud, and with G-d's help to work from within the Likud upwards to achieve a group of men of faith who will lead the State of Israel.
A-7: So, you only reached 41..
MF: It's certainly a realistic spot, considering that two MKs are already wavering and considering leaving, and the polls are speaking of more than 41 seats. But beyond this, when I look at the overall picture and the general direction that we are striving for, I am very pleased.
A-7: As something of an expert on the Likud Central Committee, can you explain please, how is it that a candidate like you, quite famous, who invested a lot, and who is known to everyone, reaches place 41, while unknowns like Danny Ben-Lulu and Moshe Kachlon are in 20 and 26?
MF: This phenomenon of a movement that is ideological and independent, and that has growing strength - our bloc is the largest in the Likud's Central Committee - is [very significant], and the truth is scary [to the party leaders].
A-7: Are you saying that you were on "hit lists?"
MF: Of course I was; it was in the media. I was the star of the "hit lists," which included not only siphoning off votes towards Hazan - he himself wouldn't have received anything on his own… - but also much worse than that, things that bordered on the criminal… In the end, this force that so scares them still managed to reach this realistic slot. Retroactively, it's possible that it could even be a positive development - I emphasize: retroactively - in that we have not taken the party by storm, which could boomerang against us… We have set our goals, we are ideological and independent, and at the same time our strength is increasing slowly but surely."
A-7: You will now call on the public to vote for a party [the Likud] whose leader supports a Palestinian state?
MF: It's good that you said that its leader supports a Palestinian state, because the party itself does not, according to its charter and membership... Of course, there's always the option of everyone building himself his own little lighthouse and calling out our truths from all sorts of small non-influential parties - but everyone today realizes that the only way to truly influence anything now is through this party, and we therefore must continue to work and grow within this party… Yes, I am continuing to register new members for the Likud, to call on people to vote for the Likud, work within the Likud, and with G-d's help to work from within the Likud upwards to achieve a group of men of faith who will lead the State of Israel.