HaNegbi says he will be the "right-wing marker" of the new party, and is in fact the only member of the Kadima Party who voted against the Disengagement Plan. Even that position, it now turns out, was not unequivocal. "Whenever I voted against it," he told Maariv last night, "I knew that my vote was not the decisive one, because there was a solid majority without me. If I would have known that my vote would defeat it, I have no idea what I would have done."
HaNegbi began his political career in the ultra-right-wing camp, leading a dramatic and well-publicized student protest atop a tall monument against the withdrawal from the Sinai Desert in 1982. Just three years ago, in December 2002, in response to Prime Minister Sharon's request/demand that the Likud ministers support his position on the establishment of a Palestinian state, HaNegbi said, "I haven't been a member of the Likud for over two decades in order to find myself supporting a Palestinian state."
Like Sharon, Ehud Olmert, and other former right-wing figures, however, HaNegbi now says that he has changed. "It didn't just happen yesterday," he said. "I am now willing to give up on things that I wasn't willing to give up in the past."
"I objected to the disengagement," HaNegbi said, "because I am against unilateral steps. I know that Sharon said there won't be another disengagement, but I also know that this situation can change quickly." Without explaining what situation could cause a need for another disengagement that does not currently exist, HaNegbi continued, "I'm not afraid of that [a change]. I trust him - so much so that even if he goes for another unilateral measure, I have no doubt that it will be to the point and public-minded. I know that every decision he makes will be for the good of the country."
Confirming the appellation given Sharon of "bulldozer," HaNegbi said, "I don't know of anyone anywhere, and certainly not in the Likud, who has his capacity to withstand pressures. They don’t have the personality and the strength to push off pressures the way he can."
In a final stab in the back of traditional Likud voters, HaNegbi said that the Greater Land of Israel dream is dead: "It's been dead for many years already, ever since [Menachem] Begin agreed to give autonomy [in Judea and Samaria]."
Adopting traditional left-wing terminology, he said, "When we left Hevron... my mother [former Lechi fighter and MK Geulah Cohen] lived there, and she cried bitterly. I told her that we have nothing to look for in Palestinian cities. I have no interest in patrolling the Kasba [market] of Shechem, or Hevron, or Jenin, or Tul Karem. My ideological maturity is a result of the last years. I continue to believe in the use of force against terrorism, and continue to object to unilateral measures. It could be that if I become convinced that we are receiving something worthy in exchange, in the future I would support such moves."
HaNegbi did not stop there. Asked if he was aware that under the next government, "many settlements will be evacuated," he said, "Yes. I support the approach of settlement blocs. I am aware of this. This is a deep and painful concession. But Sharon said there would be painful concessions, and we chose him to be the Likud head, and I did not resign when he was chosen."
It may be noted that when Sharon spoke of these concessions, he did not imply anything near a unilateral withdrawal from all of Gaza. In fact, the main campaign issue in 2003 was Labor's Gaza withdrawal plan, which Sharon attacked mercilessly. Sharon did use the phrase "painful concessions" when asked if he would ever agree to withdraw from any Yesha communities, but on the other hand, MK Benny Elon (National Union) has said that Sharon "told me himself that he was not referring to specific communities, but rather to giving the PA more control over areas that they already controlled administratively [Area B]."
"Yes," continued HaNegbi, "there may be a need to evacuate more communities. I'll be there. I'm not afraid of it. I hope that it won't be in a unilateral manner."
HaNegbi drew much criticism for his transfer to Kadima. Much of it was on the backdrop of the announcement that the police plan to recommend his indictment on charges of making illegal appointments while serving as Environment Minister, filing a false affidavit, and more.
Likud MK Gilad Erdan said, "It is sad to see how a person who began his career as an
uncompromising ideologue, is ending it as an opportunist." Peace Now Chairman Yariv Oppenheimer said, "HaNegbi's move to Kadima shows that the common denominator [in Kadima] is lust for power." Shinui MK Reshef Chen said, "It will be interesting to see which of the corrupt Kadima politicians will take upon himself the job of explaining the party's position on 'clean government.'"
Aides to HaNegbi said he had been promised one of the top ten spots on
Kadima's list of Knesset candidates.
HaNegbi began his political career in the ultra-right-wing camp, leading a dramatic and well-publicized student protest atop a tall monument against the withdrawal from the Sinai Desert in 1982. Just three years ago, in December 2002, in response to Prime Minister Sharon's request/demand that the Likud ministers support his position on the establishment of a Palestinian state, HaNegbi said, "I haven't been a member of the Likud for over two decades in order to find myself supporting a Palestinian state."
Like Sharon, Ehud Olmert, and other former right-wing figures, however, HaNegbi now says that he has changed. "It didn't just happen yesterday," he said. "I am now willing to give up on things that I wasn't willing to give up in the past."
"I objected to the disengagement," HaNegbi said, "because I am against unilateral steps. I know that Sharon said there won't be another disengagement, but I also know that this situation can change quickly." Without explaining what situation could cause a need for another disengagement that does not currently exist, HaNegbi continued, "I'm not afraid of that [a change]. I trust him - so much so that even if he goes for another unilateral measure, I have no doubt that it will be to the point and public-minded. I know that every decision he makes will be for the good of the country."
Confirming the appellation given Sharon of "bulldozer," HaNegbi said, "I don't know of anyone anywhere, and certainly not in the Likud, who has his capacity to withstand pressures. They don’t have the personality and the strength to push off pressures the way he can."
In a final stab in the back of traditional Likud voters, HaNegbi said that the Greater Land of Israel dream is dead: "It's been dead for many years already, ever since [Menachem] Begin agreed to give autonomy [in Judea and Samaria]."
Adopting traditional left-wing terminology, he said, "When we left Hevron... my mother [former Lechi fighter and MK Geulah Cohen] lived there, and she cried bitterly. I told her that we have nothing to look for in Palestinian cities. I have no interest in patrolling the Kasba [market] of Shechem, or Hevron, or Jenin, or Tul Karem. My ideological maturity is a result of the last years. I continue to believe in the use of force against terrorism, and continue to object to unilateral measures. It could be that if I become convinced that we are receiving something worthy in exchange, in the future I would support such moves."
HaNegbi did not stop there. Asked if he was aware that under the next government, "many settlements will be evacuated," he said, "Yes. I support the approach of settlement blocs. I am aware of this. This is a deep and painful concession. But Sharon said there would be painful concessions, and we chose him to be the Likud head, and I did not resign when he was chosen."
It may be noted that when Sharon spoke of these concessions, he did not imply anything near a unilateral withdrawal from all of Gaza. In fact, the main campaign issue in 2003 was Labor's Gaza withdrawal plan, which Sharon attacked mercilessly. Sharon did use the phrase "painful concessions" when asked if he would ever agree to withdraw from any Yesha communities, but on the other hand, MK Benny Elon (National Union) has said that Sharon "told me himself that he was not referring to specific communities, but rather to giving the PA more control over areas that they already controlled administratively [Area B]."
"Yes," continued HaNegbi, "there may be a need to evacuate more communities. I'll be there. I'm not afraid of it. I hope that it won't be in a unilateral manner."
HaNegbi drew much criticism for his transfer to Kadima. Much of it was on the backdrop of the announcement that the police plan to recommend his indictment on charges of making illegal appointments while serving as Environment Minister, filing a false affidavit, and more.
Likud MK Gilad Erdan said, "It is sad to see how a person who began his career as an
uncompromising ideologue, is ending it as an opportunist." Peace Now Chairman Yariv Oppenheimer said, "HaNegbi's move to Kadima shows that the common denominator [in Kadima] is lust for power." Shinui MK Reshef Chen said, "It will be interesting to see which of the corrupt Kadima politicians will take upon himself the job of explaining the party's position on 'clean government.'"
Aides to HaNegbi said he had been promised one of the top ten spots on
Kadima's list of Knesset candidates.