The Knesset faction of the National Union party also convened today to discuss its future in the coalition, following the diplomatic defeat it suffered yesterday in the Cabinet. Both party ministers - Transportation Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Tourism Minister Benny Elon - voted against the Road Map, but are against the proposal of MK Aryeh Eldad for the party to quit the coalition. Elon has long said that the party can best influence national decisions "from within the government, and not by complaining from the outside."
Arutz-7's Yosef Zalmanson asked MK Eldad today, "You realize that by leaving the coalition, you will pave the way for Labor to take your place and turn it totally to the left?" Eldad responded,
"When I see a national crime being perpetrated, the excuse that 'someone else [in this case, Labor] will do it anyway' does not give me moral justification to be involved in this matter. We are required to make a hard decision as to whether or not we can, from a moral and ethical standpoint, remain in the government."
Q. "Isn't this a case of ethics-gone-mad? You are saying that you would rather not 'soil' yourself ethically, even at the expense of a possible calamity that you might be able to prevent."
A. "This is an important ethical point. If we were talking about issues that are on the borderline, or that make us look bad, or the like, then you might be correct. But if we define this issue as no less than a national crime, then that question becomes moot."
Eldad said that resignation from the government is not the only alternative:
"There are other ways - not to show up for Cabinet votes, not to vote according to the government line in the Knesset, etc. I have already begun not showing up at all votes. In my mind, there is nothing more important than this issue, and I am putting all my efforts into this matter... The written word has tremendous power, and the world has seen and registered our official word regarding the essential issue of the People of Israel, the Land of Israel and the Arabs."
Arutz-7's Yosef Zalmanson asked MK Eldad today, "You realize that by leaving the coalition, you will pave the way for Labor to take your place and turn it totally to the left?" Eldad responded,
"When I see a national crime being perpetrated, the excuse that 'someone else [in this case, Labor] will do it anyway' does not give me moral justification to be involved in this matter. We are required to make a hard decision as to whether or not we can, from a moral and ethical standpoint, remain in the government."
Q. "Isn't this a case of ethics-gone-mad? You are saying that you would rather not 'soil' yourself ethically, even at the expense of a possible calamity that you might be able to prevent."
A. "This is an important ethical point. If we were talking about issues that are on the borderline, or that make us look bad, or the like, then you might be correct. But if we define this issue as no less than a national crime, then that question becomes moot."
Eldad said that resignation from the government is not the only alternative:
"There are other ways - not to show up for Cabinet votes, not to vote according to the government line in the Knesset, etc. I have already begun not showing up at all votes. In my mind, there is nothing more important than this issue, and I am putting all my efforts into this matter... The written word has tremendous power, and the world has seen and registered our official word regarding the essential issue of the People of Israel, the Land of Israel and the Arabs."