A foreign backer of the organization, a faction in the Likud party, contributed the money and signed a contract with the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem to hold the gathering during the Sukkot holiday, Feiglin said. At the last minute, the hotel called the contributor and said it was canceling the gathering. Organizers plan to sue the hotel for damages.
Answering complaints that a legal contract had been signed, Feiglin said the hotel replied with a "long series of empty excuses, which made it clear that somebody 'higher-up' put on the pressure" to have the hotel cancel the meeting and forego revenues of several thousand dollars.
"The excuses were ridiculous," Feiglin added. One of the reasons given was that the hotel had not given permission for the organizers to publish a picture of the hotel on the back of the invitation to the reception. "Every wedding invitation includes a picture of the hotel," Feiglin pointed out.
"At some point, we understood there was not use in discussing the matter with them because the reason obviously was political, and we moved the event to a different place. They caused themselves damage, and I imagine they will lose in court."
Feiglin said the incident proves that political leaders are concerned about the strength of the Jewish Leadership faction.
Without referring to the incident, spokesmen for the movement wrote in a weekly letter Friday, "If Manhigut Yehudit begins to achieve its aims, Israel's elites will find the way to neutralize its progress... Clearly, the despotism of the elites won't permit Manhigut Yehudit to ruin the performance, and it is reasonable to assume that they will find some way of neutralizing Manhigut Yehudit at some stage.
"So why are we there? Because this is the language that the Israelis understand. It is important to understand that the struggle is not for political achievements...but about Israeli consciousness."
Answering complaints that a legal contract had been signed, Feiglin said the hotel replied with a "long series of empty excuses, which made it clear that somebody 'higher-up' put on the pressure" to have the hotel cancel the meeting and forego revenues of several thousand dollars.
"The excuses were ridiculous," Feiglin added. One of the reasons given was that the hotel had not given permission for the organizers to publish a picture of the hotel on the back of the invitation to the reception. "Every wedding invitation includes a picture of the hotel," Feiglin pointed out.
"At some point, we understood there was not use in discussing the matter with them because the reason obviously was political, and we moved the event to a different place. They caused themselves damage, and I imagine they will lose in court."
Feiglin said the incident proves that political leaders are concerned about the strength of the Jewish Leadership faction.
Without referring to the incident, spokesmen for the movement wrote in a weekly letter Friday, "If Manhigut Yehudit begins to achieve its aims, Israel's elites will find the way to neutralize its progress... Clearly, the despotism of the elites won't permit Manhigut Yehudit to ruin the performance, and it is reasonable to assume that they will find some way of neutralizing Manhigut Yehudit at some stage.
"So why are we there? Because this is the language that the Israelis understand. It is important to understand that the struggle is not for political achievements...but about Israeli consciousness."
