The two Likud members, Moshe Ifregan and Eli Hazan, say that Feiglin represents an undemocratic outlook and vision that does not correspond to the Likud Party platform.
Their petition states that Feiglin encouraged refusal of army orders during the Disengagement - an alleged negation of the Likud platform's mention of the supremacy of the rule of law. They also quote Feiglin's recent interview with the Yediot Acharonot weekly supplement "Seven Days." Feiglin reportedly said there that his vision is one of a State that encourages the emigration of Arabs from the country, and the construction of the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple).
The petition also accuses Feiglin of "promoting non-service in the IDF," quoting an article in which he wrote, "Should we continue sending our sons to this body [the IDF]? Or should we start directing our youth to other avenues of fulfillment, even if they do not match perfectly our Zionist ethos? If we desire life - we had better clarify for ourselves, without whitewashing the matter, our mutual relationship with the IDF."
Feiglin answered charges that he was an anti-democratic force in the Likud, saying, "I believe I work in the most exemplary democratic manner. What, if you don't like a candidate or if he begins to pass you in the polls, you threaten to throw him out of the party? That's democratic? But I don't want to get into this; this kind of fighting violates the clean-campaign charter that we all signed is not good for the Likud."
Feiglin denied that his stance is too extremist for the Likud: "The Likud platform states clearly that the State of Israel should assume sovereignty over all parts of the Land that are under our control. In addition, we found that 90% of the Likud members want a mandatory weekly school hour in Jewish topics and tradition. If this point is placed prominently on the Likud's agenda, then I'm sure that we will win big.
"The problem is," he said, "that the Likud keeps on going leftward, towards the center, losing its own Jewish identity - and then people ask what the difference is between the Likud and Kadima. My platform brings the Likud back to itself, and that's what the Likudniks want."
In a press conference today, Feiglin responded to the Newsweek report that Ariel Sharon intends to divide Jerusalem and give part of it to the Palestinian Authority. "It doesn't matter what Sharon intends or doesn't intend," Feiglin said. "What's important is the direction in which he is being led by the left-wing."
Click "play" below to view A7tv report from Feiglin press conference
click here if video does not appear
The latest surveys show that Binyamin Netanyahu continues to lead in the race for party leader, followed, in order, by Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Moshe Feiglin and Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz. Netanyahu hopes to win at least 40% of the party membership's vote this coming Monday, or else the top two contenders will be forced into a run-off on Dec. 26.
MK Uzi Landau, who recently dropped out of the race for party leader and now supports Netanyahu, said today he does not favor petitions against individual candidates. However, he did make a call for all other candidates to drop out of the race and rally behind Netanyahu.
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, who abruptly quit the race for party leader on Sunday and jumped to the Kadima Party, explained himself by citing the rise in party support for Feiglin. "This is not my way," he said - and promptly quit. Feiglin and Mofaz were running neck-and-neck in polls published just before Mofaz quit.
The newest Likud MK, cosmetics queen Pnina Rosenblum, was sworn in today, replacing Tzachi HaNegbi. HaNegbi magnanimously resigned the Knesset last week after his switch to Kadima; he said the Knesset mandate belonged not to him personally, but to the Likud. However, Rosenblum is not taking the same approach. Though she reached the Knesset due to her spot on the Likud list, she says she has not yet made up her mind whether or not to remain in the Likud.
"I will choose my party based on where I have the best chances of being elected to the Knesset," she said today. This was a clear allusion to Kadima, which is doing much better in the polls than the Likud. Regarding the diplomatic differences between the parties, she says she has not yet made up her mind on these issues.
In her maiden speech in the Knesset today, Rosenblum said she supported the Disengagement, supports a united Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty, and will work to promote women's issues and "help all Israelis grow old with dignity."
Their petition states that Feiglin encouraged refusal of army orders during the Disengagement - an alleged negation of the Likud platform's mention of the supremacy of the rule of law. They also quote Feiglin's recent interview with the Yediot Acharonot weekly supplement "Seven Days." Feiglin reportedly said there that his vision is one of a State that encourages the emigration of Arabs from the country, and the construction of the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple).
The petition also accuses Feiglin of "promoting non-service in the IDF," quoting an article in which he wrote, "Should we continue sending our sons to this body [the IDF]? Or should we start directing our youth to other avenues of fulfillment, even if they do not match perfectly our Zionist ethos? If we desire life - we had better clarify for ourselves, without whitewashing the matter, our mutual relationship with the IDF."
Feiglin answered charges that he was an anti-democratic force in the Likud, saying, "I believe I work in the most exemplary democratic manner. What, if you don't like a candidate or if he begins to pass you in the polls, you threaten to throw him out of the party? That's democratic? But I don't want to get into this; this kind of fighting violates the clean-campaign charter that we all signed is not good for the Likud."
Feiglin denied that his stance is too extremist for the Likud: "The Likud platform states clearly that the State of Israel should assume sovereignty over all parts of the Land that are under our control. In addition, we found that 90% of the Likud members want a mandatory weekly school hour in Jewish topics and tradition. If this point is placed prominently on the Likud's agenda, then I'm sure that we will win big.
"The problem is," he said, "that the Likud keeps on going leftward, towards the center, losing its own Jewish identity - and then people ask what the difference is between the Likud and Kadima. My platform brings the Likud back to itself, and that's what the Likudniks want."
In a press conference today, Feiglin responded to the Newsweek report that Ariel Sharon intends to divide Jerusalem and give part of it to the Palestinian Authority. "It doesn't matter what Sharon intends or doesn't intend," Feiglin said. "What's important is the direction in which he is being led by the left-wing."
click here if video does not appear
The latest surveys show that Binyamin Netanyahu continues to lead in the race for party leader, followed, in order, by Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, Moshe Feiglin and Agriculture Minister Yisrael Katz. Netanyahu hopes to win at least 40% of the party membership's vote this coming Monday, or else the top two contenders will be forced into a run-off on Dec. 26.
MK Uzi Landau, who recently dropped out of the race for party leader and now supports Netanyahu, said today he does not favor petitions against individual candidates. However, he did make a call for all other candidates to drop out of the race and rally behind Netanyahu.
Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz, who abruptly quit the race for party leader on Sunday and jumped to the Kadima Party, explained himself by citing the rise in party support for Feiglin. "This is not my way," he said - and promptly quit. Feiglin and Mofaz were running neck-and-neck in polls published just before Mofaz quit.
The newest Likud MK, cosmetics queen Pnina Rosenblum, was sworn in today, replacing Tzachi HaNegbi. HaNegbi magnanimously resigned the Knesset last week after his switch to Kadima; he said the Knesset mandate belonged not to him personally, but to the Likud. However, Rosenblum is not taking the same approach. Though she reached the Knesset due to her spot on the Likud list, she says she has not yet made up her mind whether or not to remain in the Likud.
"I will choose my party based on where I have the best chances of being elected to the Knesset," she said today. This was a clear allusion to Kadima, which is doing much better in the polls than the Likud. Regarding the diplomatic differences between the parties, she says she has not yet made up her mind on these issues.
In her maiden speech in the Knesset today, Rosenblum said she supported the Disengagement, supports a united Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty, and will work to promote women's issues and "help all Israelis grow old with dignity."