Hamas War

Wednesday, September 7, 2005

The Leader is...

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote what I thought are the qualities of a good national leader. I asked for additional suggestions.

There was some response including names. It's interesting that the main anti-Disengagement Likud MK wasn't mentioned. That's Uzi Landau, and he has enough financial backing to have hired a staff. He seems like a nice man, but he seems too nice for the dirt he'll have to wade through. That's the problem with the Likud, the nice ones are too nice, and the rest aren't reliable.

Too many people in the Likud want the respect of the country's elite. That need/sensitivity/vulnerability seriously reduces their leadership potential. And the others imitate the worst of the crooked business and political practices of the left.

Maybe I missed it, but I didn't see or hear of Uzi Landau being out in the "fields" with the people of Gush Katif and the Northern Shomron. And I'm not talking about "photo-ops;" I'm talking about being 100% part of the struggle.

Some Mafdal, National Religious Party, MK's were out with the people, but just by being part of a religious party they have taken themselves out of the running for a position in national leadership. I don't support the religious parties in principle. I don't think that religious education should be a political issue as if only NRP members' kids go to those schools. And I don't like that they set themselves up, by definition as being for the religious and not for the entire Nation.

So if I don't see anyone from the Likud, nor from the religious parties, where does that leave us? I support political parties that as Geula Cohen once described "T'chiya," are Jewish parties. So which parties represent the entire nation?

And why am I writing about political parties? I'm writing about political parties because in the Israeli political system, Prime Ministers aren't elected. That's right. Everytime someone has said that Sharon could do what he wants, because he was elected Prime Minister, they're not telling the truth. The Likud was given the mandate to appoint a Prime Minister, because it had the largest amount of Knesset members. Lists are elected, not individuals.

It should be a political party that supports, embraces and consists of all sorts of Jews, religious, less so etc. Its leaders should be leaders, doing, not just talking and lecturing all over the world.

I see only one party that fits the bill. It's the Ichud Le'umi. The strong patriotic members of other parties should join it before the next elections. There have been various news items that say that some of the NRP members are joining it. We'll see.

MK Dr. Arye Eldad, MD, may not have had been number one on their last list for the Knesset, but he has been the number one leader during this whole sorry Disengagement affair. I support him. If he wants my help, I'm willing.

4 comments:

Robin Ticker said...

Also MK Ariel? Years ago when I wrote the shmita article and sent it totally unknown to all the Chavrei Knesset he was the only one that responded on 5/26/02.

He wrote:
thank you for your letter

your ideas will help me.

MK Uri Ariel

I believe he subsequently asked me if any of the material was in Hebrew (which I replied in the negative)

Batya said...

Yes, Uri Ariel is a good man, a good MK, but he's not "the leader." He is on the right team, though, and we need good workers.

A leader has more charisma and knows how to grab the headlines. That's an important part of the game.

Ze'ev said...

Batya, great post, as usual. What attracted me to Ichud Leumi is the very point that you make - they are not a sectorial party, but are all about the right of the Jewish People to a Jewish State (being more than just a majority of Jews) in the Land of Israel.

Moledet, the party which Aryeh Eldad reprsents is all about religious and secular Jews working together to bring the abolve vision about. It isn't a party that is for Kippah srugah or for supporting only religious schools. IF we are to have a future, both the Jews of Kfar Saba and the Jews of Yesha will have to work together (and live together).

Excellent choice.

Batya said...

Thanks
That's why I explained why and also asked people to think about what is a leader, before the "who."