Against the Referendum!

Musings #77
October 17, 2004
The 2nd of Cheshvan

Against the Referendum

Yes, I am against having a referendum to agree or disagree with Sharon’s plan to destroy Jewish communities in Gush Katif and Northen Shomron and to further withdraw from those areas.

Our Jewish right to the Land of Israel is not something to vote on, to choose. It is our inalienable right. After mourning and yearning and being persecuted in other societies for two thousand years, we have returned home.

This “issue” is not one for democracy, public opinion, mediation or high class pr firms. It’s not like one of those exclusive New York co-ops that must approve anyone who tries to buy an apartment. This Land was given to us by G-d thousands of years ago. This coming Shabbat we’ll be reading “Lech Lecha,” in which G-d sends Abram and Sarai on a trek to “the Land I will show you.” This is the Land.

It is written in the Bible, the same Bible valued by both Jews and Christians and used in western countries to “swear the truth.” They don’t swear on U.N. Declarations, political polls or The New York Times. Just when it comes to our rights to the Land of Israel, suddenly the entire world is filled with athiests.

By proposing a referendum the government is demeaning and denying our connection to our Land and our history. And we all know that they only want a referendum because they think they can win. Just like the one for Likud members; they promised to make policy in accordance, but when an overwhelming number voted against Sharon’s plan, all of a sudden, the referendum lost its legitimacy.

We had a referendum, a real one, a national election, just a few years ago. Positions were very clear between the Likud and Labor parties. And remember that there was no personal election for Ariel Sharon as Prime Minister; he got the position as head of the Likud. Sharon, in the name of the Likud, promised to keep Jewish communities, while Mitzna, as head of Labor, promised to withdraw and destroy. There was a landslide victory for the Likud, and after being made prime minister, Ariel Sharon went against that referendum completely. He adopted Labor policies, when the vast majority of the Israeli population voted against them.

This dependence on “votes” makes me wonder. What would have had happened if on November 29, 1947, the infant United Nations had voted against the establishment of a Jewish State. Would David Ben Gurion and followers have established the State of Israel against U.N. recommendations, or would he have welcomed a continuation of foreign rule? Would there have been a real civil war between the pro and anti Jewish State supportors? Would the various pre-state military groups have become so demoralized that the Arabs could have easily been victorious? These questions come to my mind when I think of the possiblity of a referendum.

Fifty-seven years later our politicians haven’t matured much. Those in power are missing the vision we need to flourish. Let’s stop looking to the politicians for leadership; they have failed us.

Batya Medad
Shilohmuse@yahoo.com
http://shilohmusings.blogspot.com/
http://www.shilo.org.il