Hamas War

Sunday, December 23, 2012

The Truth is Out, NRP's Bennett, Paraphrased: I Will Do Anything for a "Volvo"

I'm not all that surprised by the way things are going as the Israeli Knesset Elections get closer.  Since a very sizable portion of Israelis are Right and religiously traditional it's no real surprise that the newest version of the veteran National Religious Party aka Bayit Yehudi has pulled into third place according to the latest polls.
A new Channel 2 News and Dr. Mina Tzemach says that if the elections were held today, the Beit Yehudi, national Religious party, would win 12 seats, making it the third largest party in Israel. The rise of the old religious Zionist party is fueled by the mass desertion of Likud voters. The Likud-Beiteinu list, which today holds 42 seats in the Knesset, is down to 35 in Wednesday’s poll.
Straight out of the late Yosef Burg's book, it's new young leader Naftali Bennett hasn't been shy about making it clear that he plans on being in the cabinet.  This is a very central part of the Bayit Yehudi campaign, so Bennett found himself challenged by Bibi and other Likud leaders, a month before elections.
Meanwhile, Likud ministers are continuing to attack Bennett for the statement, following the lead of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, who said Friday he would not let people who advocate refusal of orders into his coalition. Saar said in a public interview panel in Holon Saturday that Bennett should never have said what he did. "We live in a country that cannot exist for even one moment without the Israel Defense Force and the IDF's existence depends on carrying out orders from the political echelon," he explained.
"A public figure who serves as a personal example must not talk about refusing orders. That is the difference between an approach that respects the state's sovereignty and one that does not. Placing my own world view before the democratic principle is a very serious matter. This is particularly true in a heterogeneous society like Israel's. The democratic principle and playing by the democratic rules – that is what keeps us together."
I wasn't surprised when Bennett made a special, carefully worded announcement which is meant to placate Netanyahu and buy himself a "Volvo*" in the next Likud led government coalition.
Bennett statement removes Netanyahu ban from serving as minister
Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA 22 December 2012
Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett said in the course of an interview broadcast on Thursday night that if, as a reserve officer, he was given orders to expel Jews or Palestinians from their homes that he would approach his commanding officer and asked to be assigned to a different activity and that if that did not happen then, while he would not tell others to refuse to follow the orders, that he would himself, on a personal level, find it impossible to carry out the order and would accept punishment for that. In an interview on Friday afternoon broadcast Saturday night on Channel 2 television, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu stated that someone who is "adamant on refusing orders" could not serve as a minister in his government.
Tonight, at a press conference, Bennett said that "I did not call for the refusal of orders...I spoke from the bottom of my heart and I do not apologize for my remarks. However, I'm not a private person but a public leader, and now I say this as clearly as possible: a command to uproot an Arab village or Jewish community from its roots is a fatal blow to the most basic of human rights...it is an unbearable dilemma. I pray with all my heart this it will never be given, but if this extreme situation is reached, I say clearly: a soldier must fulfill military orders. "
As has been said about many in Israeli politics:
"Anything for a Volvo.*"


To put it very simply: 

A vote for the NRP-Bayit Yehudi is a vote for Likud

The big difference in the MK's, at least the male ones, is that with the NRP, the kippah is more on the head than in the pocket.

I will certainly admit that the platform of the NRP sounds good. It sounds very similar to that of Otzmah L'Yisrael.  The big difference is that NRP thinks that it can influence the government from the inside.  They claim that being a cabinet minister is important.  They try to give the impression that Netanyahu actually consults with all the cabinet before making decisions.  They want the voters to believe that Netanyahu really cares what the ministers and assistant ministers think.  They are wrong, very dangerously wrong.

The job of the cabinet and the coalition MK's is to support the Government, vote according to party line and not question Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu.  We've just seen now during the election campaign how easily Bibi got Bennett to jump through a hoop.

So, don't waste your vote.  If you really want to change the world, save the State of Israel, then vote Otzmah l'Yisrael!

*Volvo, the chauffeured car, a perk for ministers.  Today there may be a different make of cars, but the meaning is the same.

13 comments:

Shy Guy said...

" If you really want to change the world, save the State of Israel, then vote Otzmah l'Yisrael!"
-----------------------------

Don't waste your vote. The world will continue to rot while the 2-man Otzmah dog and pony show [perhaps] makes it in and get assigned seats in the rear of the opposition bleachers.

Unknown said...

Remember Nafali Bennett does not need a volvo or money so please do not accuse him of joining a coalition for those things. I watched the entire interview on Channel 2 and he was clear and has said the same thing again.

Leah, Maaleh Adumim said...

I am in favor of Otzmah, I think it is important for them to be in the Knesset. but I don't think Bennett is "selling out" - as Dovid points out, Bennett doesn't need the Volvo.

basically, after Bennett's original comment on tv was twisted out of its true meaning by the media, Netanyahu threatened that he will make a govt that is totally dependent on the left and doesn't include Bayit Yehudi. Bayit Yehudi can influence only if the coalition depends on them, while Otzmah can influence even from the opposition. both are important.

still, I think that Bennett's reaction to the current smear campaign should not be "no, no, I didn't mean it, soldiers should always follow orders no matter what". he should be saying, "I am not recommending for soldiers to disobey orders, I am saying that in the Knesset I will make sure that immoral orders are not given to begin with!"

Batya said...

Leah, yes, Bennett goofed it.

shy, you're trying to discourage us, self-fulfilling prophesy.

Dovid, it's not the money, it's the status.

Jessie said...

Shy Guy - at least a vote for Otzma LeYisrael is honest - you know what you're buying. Dovid - Bennett is clearly a good talker, just like the man he learned from. But who knows what he'll do? If today's retractions and squirming behavior are any indication, it's just more votes for Likud. Don't be fooled!!!

Amihai said...

Jessie, in Beit Yehudi there are really good people - with them in you know you're sure your vote will count.
Orti Struk, Uri Ariel, Horwitz, all of them are at least as good as Ben Ari.
And you should watch carefully the interview and what Bennett said : he didn't retract at all, he said again and again the same thing : he can't encourage refusing order. But at the same time, he won't be able to evict anyone from his house.

Batya, I've really been disappointed with this post...
Even if politicaly and ideologically you don't agree with Bennett, why trying to smear him like this ?
You did exactly the same thing the likud : grab the first little thing to pull Bennett down.
Second, your argument don't hold if Beit Yehudi has enough seats. Bibi can't force another party which can destroy his coalition. Like Shas this last decade, Beit Yehudi can have a lot of influence..

The Right really need to learn not to hurt itself like this - it only help Sheli and Lapid. There is enough place for everybody, even if you don't agree with them...

Batya said...

Jessie, amen

Amichai, there are also good people in LIkud, and I won't vote for them. Politics here is very simple. The PM holds his party and especially cabinet/coalition on a tight leash. Bennet is already wearing the collar.

It is extrmely important for there to be a Right opposition, and it's terrible that Likud and NRP supporters are telling people that Otzmah won't get in. We can do it.

Shy Guy said...

Jessie, a vote for Otzmah is a vote in the garbage can of "principles". Tachlis, your vote is useless. Have a nice Knesset.

Batya, no need to be a prophet to predict what's happened over and over again to the religious Zionist camp in 60+ years of Israeli elections.

You're suffering from battered voter syndrome - and loving it apparently.

Good luck, fellow Jews. Keep banging your heads into the wall. It really helps!

And Netanyahu keeps on laughing. Principles! Principles!

Unknown said...

I watched the video. Despite what you say he never retracted because he never said what Bibi has claimed he said.

I don't think he needs the status. The guy was the head of Yesha and on e of the most successful ceo's in the Israeli hitech community all before the age of 40. Status is not who he is seeking. I like Otzmah, but I am tired of not getting things done here. I blieve Bennett and company will rock it in a few weeks and become a force to be reckoned with. The fact is the establishment is scared of him the same way they were and are scared of Feiglin. The fact that they have to jump on him like this is a sin he can be trusted.

Batya said...

Bennet's a talented and wealthy guy. NRP is lucky to have him, but I still think it's extremely important for there to be a viable party to the Right.

goyisherebbe said...

I agree that Bennett doesn't need the Volvo. I think he is temporizing to get into the cabinet and use his weight inside to push Bibi to the right. He will have the support of the good folks in the Likud to do it. The LIKUD voters have to vote for Bennett. WE have to vote for Otzma L'Yisrael. This will make the Likud small and dependent on the right. The Left will not be able to sit with Bibi and Tzippi and Feiglin no matter what. Barak burned himself by sitting in Bibi's government. The leftists consider Bibi anathema. The only way Tzipi Livni could cleanse herself of the stigma of being a hereditary revisionist was to follow the leftist party line. Bibi might be able to get Lapid in with him, but neither Labor nor Meretz nor Livni. My haredi friends -- you are compelled to vote for Aguda or Shas, according to ethnicity. At least try to keep your rabbis honest and not led blindly by their handlers. And don't believe everything you read on the walls. Everybody else -- vote as hard right as you can.

goyisherebbe said...

Otzma L'Yisrael is not a wasted vote. As the tide turns to the right, those votes, 3 or 4 in number, will be needed in crucial votes even if they sit in the opposition. They will also be able to put up no-confidence motions and private bills that will embarrass the coalition when they deserve it. Also the prestige of being in the Knesset will enable their members to do things like that wonderful number that Ben-Ari pulled at the Gordon swimming pool in TA with the Africans. The yuppies of TA were forced to show their true colors. We need more of same in the next Knesset. The Bayit Hayehudi will and should take votes away from the Licouldn't, but they should be reminded that someone still remembers that they dumped Ben-Ari and Eldad. I'll just be so glad when this election is over. Wait a minute, then the coalition negotiations begin and that's even uglier and there'll be nothing you and I will be able to do about it. I'm going to start the Movement to Abolish the Knesset. Wanna join?

Batya said...

How about the movement to limit the cabinet to a dozen and ban "sar bli tik" completely. A dozen was once considred a large cabinet, but now it isn't.