Why I Don't Vote Likud: Bibi's Support of Palestinian State

REUTERS/ATEF SAFADI/POOL

This shouldn't really surprise anyone who has been following the news here in Israel, especially when it comes to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. He has stated repeatedly, over and over in all sorts of forums that he thinks the so-called "Palestinians" sic deserve a state aka supports the "two state solution."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed his commitment on Wednesday to a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, after backtracking on that pledge during a heated campaign for a March election.
Speaking as he met with European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on her first visit to the region, and a week after his new government took office, Netanyahu said:
"We want a peace that would end the conflict once and for all ... I don't support a one-state solution, I don't believe that's a solution at all, I support the vision of two states for two peoples." (Reuters)

Times of Israel

Netanyahu fudged, liked a tricky lawyer or used-car salesman, during the recent election campaign which shouldn't surprise anyone. He desperately wanted votes from the Right. That's also why he drafted Benny Begin to his list, promising him a vague cabinet position that wouldn't be too stressful.

No surprise to me, but terribly unfortunately, too many voters from the Right who, davka, oppose giving the Arab terrorists-Fatah and Hamas- a state fell for Bibi's scam that he would protect us from a new state in our Biblical heartland, which overlooks Tel Aviv, Netanya etc.

commons.wikimedia.org

A simple look at recent (post 1967 Six Days War) Israel shows that all policy decisions to destroy Jewish cities and communities stem from Likud governments. Binyamin Netanyahu is no more a Land of Israel patriot than were Menachem Begin or Ariel Sharon. Begin's (father of Benny) Camp David Accords which not only ceded the Sinai to Egypt but established the policy of Arab autonomy alienated me from the Likud. Even though there are some very reliable Right MKs, they do not have the authority to impose policy. They are no more than "window-dressing."

I pray that not only will G-d bless our government leaders with wisdom, but He must also bless the ordinary voter with the ability to choose the best political party to lead our precious State of Israel out of this mess.

Knesset Elections 2015 Update, Choice of Benny Begin, Bad News for Likud

Benny Begin

In a sense I'm not surprised that Bibi took former MK and Minister Benny (son of Menachem) Begin out of the "boidim*," storage space, and gave him the very safe #11 that had been rumored for Caroline Glick. I had no doubts that Netanyahu was planning on using the spot for a strong vote-getting Right wing candidate.

Tzachi Hanegbi

Benny Begin's strong ideological credentials make up for his lack of charisma. He avoids the spotlight, rather anti-political, but his task is to reel in traditional Likud Revisionist supporters. He can do that, at least with pensioner crowd, but in all honesty, I don't think he'll attract anyone under the age of fifty or maybe even sixty. As I had written a number of times before, all the talk of giving that spot to Caroline Glick was so that she'd bring in the ideological Right. Caroline would have done a better job, being female and young; I guess Bibi didn't have too many people to choose from. He needs to counteract Tzachi Hanegbi who was actively involved with Disengagement and was a stalwart founder of Kadima.

The choice of Benny Begin shows that the Likud, is hurting and Bennett's Jewish Home is getting more attractive to young Right wing activists and potential MKs. Now that Naftali Bennett has really opened up and changed the NRP to the Bayit Yehudi, Jewish Home, even recruiting/welcoming non-Jewish Israelis, more and more of your everyday "man in the street,"  "amcha" Israeli will feel more at home in the Jewish Home.

Remember that demographics are very important in predicting political trends, and not only are the Jewish Home supporters young, but they do have relatively large families. That's why the future is in the Jewish Home rather than in Yair Lapid's "Yesh Atid," "There's a Future" Party.

Now that the political parties have had to finalize their lists, I'll have more to say.

Shabbat Shalom uMevorach,

May this be a Peaceful and Blessed Shabbat.

*boidim-storage space made by lowering the ceiling. It was/is built into Israeli apartments.

The Great Right Hope

I have no doubts that a very sizable, probably majority, of Israeli Jews are really Right in their kishkes, guts. That's the main reason why Bibi Netanyahu courted Benny Begin for this year's elections. Bibi knew that for many, having Benny on the Likud list would make it "Glatt Kosher" for a lot of Israeli patriots.

The big problem is Benny Begin. He's not a politician and has as much charisma as Castor oil. Arlene Kushner's latest update describes last Saturday night's Election Forum in Jerusalem:

Elections are coming a week from tomorrow, and when we consider the above, it cannot be too soon. Dear Heaven, at the end of the day, may we find ourselves with leaders who will protect our nation.

Briefly here: Polls continue to show Likud in the lead, by how much depends on which poll you are looking at. The biggest surprise is the gain by Yisrael Beitenu, the party of Avigdor Lieberman.

The major candidates held a forum in Jerusalem on Motzei Shabbat (Saturday night). Benny Begin, representing Likud, was a disappointment, as he spoke only against Kadima and did not present a solid and coherent platform for Likud. One senses that Begin, who has a sterling reputation for integrity, is tired and will not be the force within the party that it was hoped he would be.

The star of the evening, according to audience response, was Uri Bank, who is on the list for National Union (Ihud Leumi) and presented a forceful and dynamic vision of what the party stands for. This nationalist, Zionist party is the clearest in its refusal to consider a Palestinian state.

No surprise for me, at least.

The Likud's Not For Me

The statement in the title can be read at least two ways.

• The Likud is not my party of choice to vote for in the upcoming Israeli Elections.
• The Likud doesn't promote policies I consider necessary for the survival and growth of the State of Israel.

Yesterday, for the second time in less than a week, I ran into an old friend who touts himself as pro-Land of Israel, Right wing etc, but he's a loyal Likudnik. We had one of those quick, straight to business, talks on the sidewalks of Jerusalem. He considers himself a pragmatist, a realist, and that's why he thinks it's important to support Bibi Netanyahu and the Likud.

I also consider myself a pragmatist, a realist, and that's why I'm not supporting the Likud. He is encouraged by the addition of strong ideological Israelis, such as Benny Begin, but I'm disappointed. Benny has returned to his father's party, which has made the sentimental and nostalgic very happy.

My sentiments are here in Shiloh, the center of Israeli political history, where the Jewish People became a Nation, the first administrative and spiritual Capital, which lasted 369 years.

The two Binyamin's, Begin and Netanyahu have mentioned nothing about the importance of Israel holding onto and strengthening its presence in Judea, Samaria and specifically Shiloh. All we hear are platitudes about an undivided Jerusalem and the importance of security.

Well, there's no security without land. It's that simple. The cease-fire lines after the 1967 Six Days War gave Israel security. Successive governments bumbled, stumbled and weakened us by handing over land and sovereignty to the Arabs. Every step in the "peace process" has increased terrorism. Much of Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel, is Judenrein, scoured/empty of Jews, and the Likud party is not promoting anything to change it.

I hope and pray that there will be a political party I can vote for with a clean conscience, a political party I can promote and work for without embarrassment and the need to make excuses for. All I want is one with a very simple platform.

Zot Shelanu!

All of the Land of Israel

For the Betterment of Israeli Jews

We Have One Land

It is Ours!

What Do You Think They're Saying?

I didn't attempt to overhear their conversations. I just focused my camera and activated the optical 4X zoom on Benny Begin, Uzi Landau and Dan Meridor.

Considering the news about Begin and Landau wanting to return to the Likud and try to get into the Knesset, their conversations must have been...

Picture #1



Picture #2

Picture #3

Picture #4

What do you think they're saying?