Israeli Elections Musings #6, Likud Primaries, 2026, Why I didn't Vote

As the upcoming Israeli Elections get closer, the situation gets more confusing, especially for those watching from afar. I'm right here and not confused about how things work. I just am utterly undecided about which party to vote for. I couldn't even choose candidates in the recent Likud Primaries.

There were lots of articles about those who "won" and "lost" safe spots in the Likud Primaries last week. What I didn't see were any interviews with those of us, the 40 plus percent of Likud members who didn't vote in the primaries. I'm a very, very veteran member of Likud, as I first joined even before the Likud as we know it today even existed. In 1970 I proudly, as a good Betari, had joined Herut. Over the decades I always voted in the primaries as the party grew and expanded into Likud. Yes, even when not voting Likud in National Elections.

This year I searched through what I could find about the various candidates to see who voiced opinions, policies and plans I agree with. A couple of MKs who seemed possibilities left the party looking for greener, or should I say brighter blue and white,  pastures. I certainly couldn't find the dozen needed for my vote to count. 

What was I looking for? I just had two very necessary priorities.

1- a candidate brave enough to say that Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu is a failure. His rule has just brought us war, which started long before October 7, 2023 and we're further away from victory than ever before. Simply put: Bibi must be replaced immediately

2- we have to fight to win ניצחון מוחלט, absolute total victory causing our enemies to surrender and be destroyed

I didn't hear that from anyone at all. That's why I didn't vote in the Likud Primaries, and I'm still horrendously undecided about which party will get my vote in the national Knesset Elections.

Who agrees with me? Please share if you do... 

Israeli Elections Musings #5, The Undecideds Talk Again-- I'm More Undecided

 

Last night we Undecideds had another, our third, discussion. Most of us are still undecided, some more and some less. I'm probably the most undecided and depressed about the choices before us. Also, compared to the rest of the panel, I think I'm the most disappointed in my voting options.

No political party is offering, publicizing a platform that I'd consider the minimum of what I think is necessary for the long-term survival of the State of Israel. To make matters worse, the options in the Likud Primaries are even worse.

 

You're probably wondering what I'm looking for. Simply put:

VICTORY, TOTAL ABSOLUTE VICTORY  

Victory requires that the enemy surrenders, and the victorious country takes over and makes changes. Victory isn't just a battle and enemy withdrawal. Fighting for Victory requires "boots on the ground," which disqualifies Trump's American assistance. I'm thankful for what he has done, but it doesn't qualify the USA to take credit and make policy decisions.

War is hard, dirty, painful if you want to win, or you've been attacked. There's no clean way about it. It's not a game that can be won by high-tech remote control. And even more important to remember, deals don't bring peace. If you don't fight to win, you'll suffer even worse in defeat.

We've been suffering form what can either be called  serial wars or a never-ending war that takes breaks. But whatever you want to call it, the State of Israel is in serious danger. Soldiers and civilians are getting killed. As I've said for decades, I'm a CPA's daughter and care about the bottom line and not interested in pretty words, promises or clever "tricks."

One thing that disturbed me in our discussion is that nobody else said anything to show that they also considered Victory a priority. I'm still having trouble wrapping my mind around that. Is it age or ideology? Or were they being cautious about identifying with my overall "extremism?"

Gd willing, despite my fears, we'll have new strong, brave leadership, which will help achieve a true victory... I'm praying. Elections in Israel are very complicated because of the need for a coalition. 

Please listen to our discussion, and tell me in the comments what you think and why. And of course, share this around. 

Israeli Elections Musings #4, Preparing for Third Undecided Panel Discussion-Decisions Still Unknown

Israeli Elections are getting closer, but my decision about which political party to vote for seems further away than ever. Many friends feel the same way. 

I don't want anyone involved in the October 7, 2023 fiasco in power any more, and that's not only Binyamin Netanyahu and his loyal poodles. That includes all the powerful generals who've been leading the IDF, Military Intelligence and other national security honchos for the past decade or more. They're heavily involved in the failures. I'm also suspicious of those who had gone to the USA for "training," better described as brainwashing. They drank the Koolaid claiming that tiny Israel, surrounded by real enemies, only needs a "small, smart army." I guess that's why civilians got to the Nova site and the attacked southern communities faster that the IDF.

In addition, it won't help much to fill the Knesset with people who don't know the system... grrr, yup. That's part of why I'm so UNDECIDED. No party or MK at this point has my full trust aka vote. In Israel we vote for political parties, not for individuals. And no political party ends up with a majority of the one hundred and twenty 120 Knesset seats. Various parties must form coalitions to rule in theory, but Binyamin Netanyahu discovered a way out of that, and he did it a number of times in recent decades. We went through a series of elections that didn't result in a coalition, so Bibi Netanyahu was able to continue to rule as Prime Minister with a select minority of Knesset Members. 

It only ended when Naftali Bennett made history crafting a coalition, while leading a small party of only seven members. Bennett's coalition fell after Bibi "bribed" a couple of MKs with promises of safe places in the Likud list and undeserved cabinet positions in his next government. That's why he had the Likud bylaws amended to give him a large amount of "safe seats" to choose according to his will, rather than the Likud primaries. 

The Undecided Panel will be meeting soon. You can hear our last discussion here.

Gaza War Musings #77: Victory From Bibi's Likud? Reminds Me of an Old Joke

Bibi has been Prime Minister for most of the past twenty years. We've had constant wars/battles/attacks. Victory isn't on the menu with him in charge. He's not going to change. Same bombastic speeches, but he doesn't fight to win the war.

Since Bibi has been Prime Minister, possibly even before, we've been fighting the same long, very endless war. Every year or two our Arab terrorist "neighbors" have started missile attacks. Sometimes the targets are mostly southern Israel, sometimes northern, sometimes close to our main International Ben-Gurion Airport and sometimes a combination of the above. After we "hit back a bit," Bibi state some version of:

"Now we showed them. Now we'll have quiet." 

We never hear a word of surrender from our enemies, not even a whisper of it. Things just quiet down... until the next time and the time after. It happened so many times that I'm not the only one who lost count years ago. Then on October 7, 2023, Shabbat Simchat Torah-- a Jewish Holiday, almost three years ago, our terrorist, enemy neighbors raised the level of attack tremendously murdering over a thousand innocent unsuspecting Israelis, and the IDF was caught not just flatfooted but with its pants down. Reservists and brave volunteers arrived at the attack sites more quickly than army units. 

And now, according to Israeli Law, we're supposed to have new elections. Bibi and the Likud, the coalition members and defense establishment have never taken responsibility for their massive mistakes. The Likud, still led by Netanyahu is in campaign mode, and IDF leaders of the past decade are also running for office, totally ignoring their responsibilities for our military and security disaster. Likud MKs are now traveling around the country billing themselves as LIKUD VICTORY FORUM trying to convince the Likud faithful that they'll bring "victory." 

There's an old "saying," which is has a lot of truth in it.

"What's the definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."

If Bibi had been capable of winning, true absolute victory, he would have defeated all of our enemies early in his time as Prime Minister, and we wouldn't have been attacked on Oct 7, 2023. Voting for Likud and his "poodles" will just bring us more war. 

The Likud is going to suffer in the ballot box because of the continued war and its sell-out to the chareidim who mostly refuse to serve in the army. The two "national religious" parties, not to be confused with the National Religious Party NRP which no longer exists, have to decide between loyalty to the coalition and trying to attract those who are disgusted with Bibi's inability to fight to victory and his embarrassing Trump-worshipping. 

And if you're wondering whom I'm supporting... I'm still undecided.

By the way, the opposition doesn't even talk victory... What do you think?

Israeli Elections Musings #3 These Are The Choices & We're Still Undecided

 

For this discussion, Jonathan Feldstein asked each of us to give the ideology* of the various political parties in Israel of those which are mostly in the Knesset at present, plus a couple of realistic hopefuls. A reason for this is that many listeners to our panel don't live in Israel and have minimal knowledge, at best, about the multitude of political parties here. To be honest, many Israelis are only familiar with their favorites and at best their most hated. 

In Israel one can't be 100% sure of which parties will be competing until close to the deadline for applying. 

Here's our discussion, and yes, I call it a discussion, not a debate.  

As in the first of our discussion (here's the link,) lots of interesting points are brought up. We aren't a "bunch of friends." I doubt that one person in the group actually knows everyone else personally, and that includes Jonathan Feldstein. That makes our conversations even more interesting.

There's a transcription on the screen, so you can follow by reading, not just listening.

I'd love to hear your opinion and feelings and questions about our discussion. Thanks for taking the time.

*I must admit that I didn't quite follow his instructions, because I see the political parties as products of their leaders and history. In addition many do not have actual policies that match their names and/or stated political ideologies. I've been following Israeli politics since making aliyah in 1970. For instance despite the fact that the Likud markets themselves as Israeli Right, their actual policies aren't, and I'll never forget Bibi Netanyahu's speech at the 2008 International Jewish Blogger's Convention. I blogged about it calling the post "Impressive." He pledged to rule as a Centrist, and that's a good description of what he has been doing since returning to office of Prime Minister. For me facts on the ground, the bottom line are more important than how one markets oneself.   

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #66: Why Do Likud MKs and Voters Still Have Faith in Bibi?

Gaza: Must SURRENDER NOW

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results...  

    source unknown, not Albert Einstein

Maybe I've blogged this before, I've certainly said to friends. Expecting a victory, a total absolute VICTORY, over our enemies with Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu at the wheel aka Prime Minister, isn't going to happen. 

Please read carefully. I wrote VICTORY, not ceasefire. An absolute total victory requires that the enemy SURRENDERS. They raise their empty hands and offer to do anything so we stop fighting. They must fear us.

Netanyahu is very proud to say that he's the longest serving Prime Minister of Israel, but another record of his he ignores. Israel has been attacked more times under his rule than under anyone else... and it's not because he has ruled so long. Every couple of years we're attacked. I call it target practice, because I see it as preparation for a much bigger war, Gd forbid. Honestly, I hope that I'm wrong, but facts are proving me right.

These attacks don't end with the terrorist/enemy surrendering. We just "wear them down" until they're willing to stop... until the next time. That's not anything like peace or victory. That doesn't increase Israel's security; it just increases the dangers. Gd has been very generous in protecting civilians, because the attacks could easily cause lots more dead and injured Israelis. 

The "October 7th War" had been planned as a two front war, but luckily Hezbollah saw that the north would be more challenging than the south. Hamas had an easy time against Israel's southern communities for two main reasons. First of all they had a great espionage system on that front. Gazans worked in many homes and communities. They not only knew who had weapons; they knew where they were kept. Also they knew that there were communities that so believed that Gazans were their friends, they didn't even have a weaponized self-defense group. Gazans wandered freely around southern Israel and knew even better than most Israelis that the IDF wasn't present in sufficient numbers and force to defend Israeli civilians. 

Now, who was responsible for this situation? Follow the ladder of responsibility and policy. As the late US President Harry Truman used to say:

THE BUCK STOPS HERE

Whoever is the top government official, President or Prime Minister, is the one who must take full responsibility for foul-ups. In Israel, October, 2023, that would be Prime Minister Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu. 

Bibi hasn't governed with strong viable defense policy, one that will give us total absolute peace, not shaky ceasefires. Even when he sends the IDF to attack the enemy, he insists on warning the enemy, so all we do is bomb empty buildings. Yes, he claims he's only warning innocent sic civilians, but there were civilian who attacked, raped, murdered, incinerated Israelis October 7, 2023. And they were Gazan civilians who cheered them on and praised what they did to Israelis, foreign workers, guests and even some Israeli Arabs. 

When speaking at the UN and American Congress, Netanyahu proudly bragged about his moral way of conducting a war... duh? Our enemy thinks we are weak jokes because of him. They aren't afraid. They're just planning the next war. I'm a realist, a pragmatist.

Why do people keep voting Likud with Bibi at the helm? And why are Likud MKs and hopefuls afraid to oppose him? We're not going to have a victory, peace and security with Bibi at the helm

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #64: Nu? Where's The Victory? Has It Flown Away?

 

I had used this photo for the 52frames Fluid album. 

At the time of the terrible surprise attack on October 7, 2023, all the murders, perversions, kidnappings done to innocent Israelis, visitors and foreign workers, Israel was totally unprepared, militarily and emotionally. That must be especially said of many of the victims and southern communities, who had been proudly in the "peace camp," believing that their kindness and generosity to local Arabs, especially including Gazans, trying to prove that we had nothing to fear from those Arabs. What a shock to them when many of those very Arabs came proudly as Hamas terrorists, joining enthusiastically in the murderous terror. Some of the attacked communities didn't even have weapons for self-defense. They didn't think such a thing necessary.

To make matters worse, it took much longer than it should have for the IDF to get its act together and begin the difficult defensive war for Israel's very survival. Israel's leaders, too, have been hypnotized/brainwashed by the misconception that we weren't in danger from the south, from Gaza. I have my theories on why that happened, but it's not for now.

Since Hamas began the war against Israel on October 7, 2023, over a thousand IDF soldiers and police have been killed, besides the approximately 1,200 murdered by Hamas Gazans in the various attacks/pogroms/massacres on that first black day. 

Within a few months, miraculously for sure, it looked like we were on the way to an amazing victory, but then... things changed, and instead of being strong confident victors Prime Minister Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu began looking rather pathetic trying to get approval and praise from foreign leaders who had been growing more critical and demanding with every concession he made. 

While groups of Israelis organized returns to their former homes in Gaza, Bibi pledged in the United Nations and the United States Congress that we had no plans of settling in Gaza. To show his seriousness, every few months he'd destroy Jewish communities in Judea/Samaria. If someone counted all the Jewish homes he has destroyed in his close to twenty years as Prime Minister, it probably rivals those Menachem Begin and Arik Sharon destroyed. Yes, in case you're wondering, all were elected on the Likud slate as Prime Minister. It makes you wonder; doesn't it?

And how has been going for Israel militarily? At one point it was looking good, but instead of fighting to victory, Bibi did his usual... nothing. Simply put, negotiation isn't his strong point. Bibi specializes in hypnotizing oratory. 

After almost twenty years as Prime Minister, too many Israelis can't imagine anyone else in the role. Yes, even those who agree that the situation is terrible, and that Israel has made many mistakes are terrified of losing Netanyahu. I just don't understand them. We've all heard:

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.

Do they really think that continuing with the same leader will improve things? I also like to remind people of what US President Harry Truman liked to say:

The Buck Stops Here!

Bibi can only blame himself, and we Israelis -Right, Left and Center- must admit that for us to see a true, total VICTORY, which we need for our very survival, we need new leadership, from top to bottom, from Right to Left and Left to Right. The Opposition is no more competent than the Government. They haven't proposed anything that will help. They just want to destroy Netanyahu. I wish they'd use their power and enthusiasm against Hamas, against our enemies. They are worse than the Likud. They haven't proposed VICTORY any more frequently than Bibi.

You're probably asking whom do I propose can take over... for that please wait, though you're welcome to propose people in the comments.

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #46: Deja Vu, Labor vs Revisionists

I try not to listen or read much news, just enough so that I have an idea of what's going on. As you may know, I don't think that Bibi has done a good job. It's pretty obvious considering the wars going on here. The Buck Stops Here...

There's the "war" between various sectors and ideologies here in Israel. Some of this is connected to the old Labor socialists vs Revisionist capitalist Israelis. The imaginary and trumped up charges against hilltop youth and those to the Right of the Likud remind me of the Saison and Palmach attack of the Altalena way back when...

That's an earlier example of how the Israeli Left, which still controls many of the government departments, like the "justice department," which also causes the military glass ceiling, media distortions, Shabak's investigating "hilltop youth" rather than Arab terrorists, etc, etc, etc.

And of course there's the war that started October 7, 2023... and the fact that Ronen Bar, Director of the Israeli Security Agency knew something was "going to happen" but refrained from informing the Prime Minister and sending the IDF to protect the southern front. It's pretty clear to me that he were hoping that Bibi would have a breakdown like Yitzchak Rabin did during the 1967 Six Day War and resign/retire.

Now Bar is refusing to leave his position. I guess he's burning his papers...

But my big question is:

Why did it take Bibi a year and a half to go after him?

Yup, lots of questions, and the answers aren't pretty.

Unfortunately, when I searched in English news about Ronen Bar, the Times of Israel and Jerusalem Post had similar headlines to the unabashedly pro-terror anti-Israel Al Jazeera. The only honest, reliable article and youtube I could find was from JNS, Netanyahu refutes Shin Bet chief’s claims he broke law. So if you haven't yet begun to read and watch JNS- join now.

Now in all honesty, I do find JNS too worshipful of Bibi at times, but there's nothing better, more accurate. Unfortunately, that's one of the results of not having a term limit for Prime Minister here in Israel, but that's another problem. Searching this blog for a post about limiting the number of years for Prime Minister, I found this Israel Post-Coalition Crisis: Back to Usual #$!#! Idiocy. from nine 9 years ago.

I'll end here and await your comments. Please share, too, thanks.

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #45: Bottom Line-- Bibi has FAILED

Simply put: If Bibi was a good leader, a good competent Prime Minister, then Hamas wouldn't have attacked Israel October 7, 2023... and if you insist that they still would have attacked... then we should have won within a few weeks. Really. 

I'm a pragmatist, a CPA's daughter. I look at the bottom line. We may win some battles, but we're not winning the war. True Total Victory seems further away now than a year ago. Sorry to sound so depressing, but I'm a realist.

Here's another of my "Gnite" posts:

I feel like a broken record in responding to Bibi's statements, since he hasn't really said anything new...

Promises, platitudes and threats... depending on who's the audience. We never win, just take breaks... duh! No war was ever won like that.

The IDF which was once one of the best armies in the world...

Israel which is such a tiny country...

Civilians and reservists who heard about Hamas's attack on Israel's south made it to defend the country before the army. We've always bragged that we're a civilian army, but that's not quite what was meant.

The slogan אחרי Acharei--AFTER ME traditionally meant that the generals led from heading into battle, not civilians first and generals in the safety of their homes and offices.

Early in the war, the older reservists, sometimes serving along with their sons, reported that it was the third or fourth time fighting for the same land in Gaza. Each time they won, but then were told by the government to give it back to the terrorists.

Something stinks, and it's coming from the our so-called leaders, Bibi and mafia. They show up for photo-ops and then return to safety.

The State of Israel is in serious danger.

Our soldiers are the best, but they can't make policy. The policymakers are from "lala" land. Bibi's policy is destroying the morale of the soldiers, who aren't stupid. They realize that they're being used and lives wasted. Don't Likud voters realize what they've voted for?

Trump's not going to save us. We must save ourselves. As a student of the Bible, especially Navi-Prophets, it's clear deja vu אין חדש ain chadash nothing's new. When we fight without asking for foreign help, then Gd will pitch in with miracles. And we must resettle Gaza. It's ours. We must act as a sovereign nation. That's the only way for #TotalVictory. #ניצחוןמוחלט

Gd willing, tomorrow will be a better day.

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #42: FIGHT TO WIN! Only VICTORY!

This is the message I wrote last night on Facebook. Israelis are now starting to face the fact that there are very few living hostages. Most have been murdered by the Hamas terrorists, and that includes the young Bibas family. 

We're paying for the few survivors plus bodies and difficult to identify remains with live healthy convicted Arab terrorists. We're emptying the jails and filling the hospitals and cemeteries, including future Arab terror victims. This is insane, and the people responsible for our lack of immediate military response, government, security and IDF haven't been fired, charged etc. Almost none have even admitted mistakes to the citizens of Israel. 

Think about it...

PS because of changes in blogger, I can't use any of my newer photos, just those that I've already posted.

Gnite

Most Israelis are trying to wrap their heads around the news that the two cute Bibas kids, their mother and probably most of the remaining hostages, really are dead, murdered by the Hamas terrorists adored by our enemies who claim to be our friends.

In exchange the terrorists get more terrorists for their vicious perverse cruel "army" to murder more Jews.

Yes, as far as I'm concerned, all those who support Hamas and/or chant "From the River to the Sea" etc are our enemies. They support the destruction of the State of Israel. Even if they're so stupid they've never seen a map of Israel, that's no excuse. It just means that they are dangerously useful idiots.

Ditto to all of those who support a "two state solution," which would be the "final solution" for the Gd forbid destruction of the State of Israel.

Yes, I'm blunt. I look at the facts.

Bibi is a record-breaking Prime Minister. There have been more wars under his rule than an other Israeli leader. Actually I don't know if any other country has had as many wars as we've had since Bibi became PM. Of course, he doesn't call them wars, even when our enemies attack us, and we never have a real victory. When they finish their target practice, he proudly declares it's over "and they won't try anything again," but the ceasefire only lasts until the next time...

Somehow Bibi has mesmerized the Likud and its loyal voters... he should have been fired years ago... He's a failure. Hamas is calling the shots and even decides where the released terrorists go.

Under Bibi's rule Israel has surrendered.

When is he going to be sent packing?

AND PLEASE DON'T SAY THAT NOBODY COULD REPLACE HIM!

We won't need elections if the replacement is from the Likud. It just must be someone not afraid to do the right thing. FIGHT TO WIN. None of that "moral" army garbage. No other country has done it, because it's the road to disaster, to losing a war.

I hope I can fall asleep, but at least I wrote what I needed to say.

Gd willing we'll meet again in the morning.

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #38: Bibi, VICTORY NOW!

What I want is very simple. 

I want a Prime Minister who clearly rules as Prime Minister of an independent sovereign country, who is not afraid to win a war, destroy our enemies. Stop the fokokt "morality" business. It endangers us and strengthens the enemy. This sicko policy has been followed for over twenty years, if not longer. I'm disgusted. Too many of our soldiers have been killed because of it, and now the country is in total danger. Bibi is a disaster, totally.

You know that I'm no youngster. I may forget why I walked into a room or names that I've known forever, but there are things I know and remember really well. One of them is that a young neighbor, who had been a friend of one of my sons, was killed in a badly planned army action, because the government was protecting the enemy. Yes, that faux fokokt morality Bibi is so proud of. I wrote this over twenty years ago “Aish Zarah—A Strange Fire” If you search this blog, you'll find many posts about Avihu Keinan, הי"ד. I suggest you do it. 

For me, this war is deja vu on steroids. 

And to all those who claim that nobody could be better than Bibi... Duh?!? Have you noticed that Israel was attacked over a year ago, and it took not minutes, not even a few hours, but much longer for the IDF to come to the rescue of our embattled citizens? This was under Bibi's watch/rule. Bibi Netanyahu is the longest serving Prime Minister. Yes, simple math. So who's responsible? BIBI!

This WAR isn't the first under Bib's rule. Honestly, I lost track. All those attacks over the years must be considered wars, even though Bibi insisted on giving them different names. And then he never fought to win, destroy the enemy. He just "mowed" them to "silence" as if they had accidentally misfired onto Israel's cities.

I don't understand how Israelis who consider themselves on the "Right" keep lying to themselves. The Left who have taken over the streets since they can't win elections are a different story... not for now.

Likud voters have been conned. 

I'm not a political party loyalist. I'm a CPA's daughter and look for the bottom line. What's the policy? What have they done, accomplished. I look at the facts. That's why I consider Netanyahu totally unsuccessful and dangerous. I heard him promise to be a "centrist" in 2008. Read this, because it explains it all. Centrists aren't leaders, and we need a true brave leader NOW!

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #36- Dangerous Surrender!

 

As a student of the Bible/Tanach, most recently Prophets/Navi, that's the message. Gd will save us if we do the right thing. That's how we won the 1967 Six Days War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War.

I kept suspecting, fearing that Israel's Prime Minister Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu would fold under American pressure, but I prayed that he'd be opposed by other Likud leaders and coalition ministers. Unfortunately, he and all but one of the ministers failed to oppose it. 

Just Otzma Yehudit's Itamar Ben-Gvir opposed American rule over the State of Israel. He's the only reliable leader. That's it. I'm hoping to hear angry voices from Likud backbenchers. So far, silence.

Netanyahu has given up our sovereignty and totally buckled. He let the USA decide our defense policy.

Biden announces Israel's truce with Lebanon with hope of paving pathway for Gaza ceasefire

I'm not interested in his fancy oratory. I look at facts and policy. The next war in the north will be a gazillion times worse. It's clear. This has been happening ever since Bibi has been ruling. Read my other articles, please. I don't have time to write more now. 

This is what I wrote last night on facebook:

Gnite 

It shouldn't surprise you that I'm beyond, angry, miserable, scared and worse. 

I'm not the only Israeli feeling totally betrayed by our government coalition. Bibi is just what I've been saying for years, a "closet Leftist." That's definitely the most polite term I can use. 

You can Google what I wrote on Shiloh Musings in 2008 which I titled Impressive*. FB blocks the link and hides....

I don't care what spin Netanyahu puts on what he agreed to, but it's a surrender. A military surrender and a surrender of Israeli sovereignty. 

Why hasn't the coalition crumbled? 

Why isn't the Likud demanding Bibi's resignation?

Why aren't the families of our dead and wounded soldiers out in the streets shouting?

The deal, or whatever you want to call it a travesty.

It's a danger to the survival of the State of Israel. 

I'm beyond angry. 

What do you think?

If you agree with what I've written, please share. 

#totalvictory #עדהניצחון

I'd appreciate your comments, and share if you agree, thanks.

*I linked it here, because this isn't Facebook.  

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #28 Useful Idiots

Here in Israel useful idiots have taken to the streets demanding that the elected government kowtow to terrorists' demands. 

Here in Israel useful idiots are blaming the government for the acts of the terrorists instead of strengthening the government to fight our enemies. 

FOLLOW THE MONEY #followthemoney 

Who's controlling the useful idiots? 

International Leftists, Progressives the pro Gaza pro Hamas crowd. 

Unfortunately Bibi is too weak and isn't properly defending us. Defending us means Judicial Reform and court-martialing/firing head military honchos who failed totally October 7. It also means that the IDF and its generals shouldn't consider themselves independent of the elected government. Bibi, as the longest serving Prime Minister has always taken the easy way out and let them continue making policy. That's how we got into this mess.

Even worse is that the Likud voters, supporters and most of the MKs are too afraid to force Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu to retire from the Knesset, retire from his position as Prime Minister. We need true leadership, not the fake stuff, the fancy oratory we have now.

The useful idiots are blaming Bibi for holding the hostages, which makes no sense. He's not holding them.

The useful idiots are demanding that Bibi free the hostages. How can he free them when he's not holding them? And when the IDF gets close to rescuing them, Hamas now executes them. And what do the useful idiots then say? That their execution was Bibi's fault. Duh?

Now to tell you the truth, I've been against Bibi Netanyahu for years, well over a decade to be exact. I caught onto his game in 2008. He talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk. His recent talk in Congress followed the same pattern as at the International Jewish Bloggers Convention in 2008. First Bibi hypnotizes his followers with very nationalist Right wing rhetoric, and then when he has almost his entire audience/followers hypnotized he tells the truth. But they somehow don't hear it. Somehow I hear it. In 2008 he said that when he returns to the position as Prime Minister, he'd be a centrist. Think of all the Jewish homes and communities have been destroyed during Netanyahu's time as Prime Minister. In Congress he made three dangerous promises.

1. Israelis won't return to live in Gaza.
2. He "envisions" peaceful Gazans policing themselves.
3. He proudly bragged that Israel is the most moral army protecting innocent sic Gazan civilians-- even though it endangers Israeli soldiers

I find it really strange that I'm the only one who heard that. Listen or read the transcript of the speech, and you'll see that I'm correct. Unfortunately, even loyal Likud activists, politicians and voters are also useful idiots.

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #26: Indisputable Victory, Gd Willing

 

The other day I took the bus to Shaar Binyamin, a large shopping area just north of Jerusalem, or describe it as on the way to Jerusalem for a large part of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council. While wandering around the Rami Levi Discount Supermarket, which has grown since I worked in its Yafiz clothing store, I noticed these classic Israeli blue and white hats. I was excited to see on them a new perfectly timely slogan:

 ניצחון מוחלט nitzachon muchlat Indisputable Victory

Many of us probably think that such a policy would be obvious, no need to shout it out. But unfortunately since Likud's Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu had begun serving as prime minister a couple of decades ago, such a thing hasn't happened. Yes, I know that he talks the talk, but he doesn't walk the walk.

Bibi is our longest serving prime minister, and his multiple terms have seen us suffer through more wars than any other. But he doesn't like the word "war." He has this creative "name team" that makes up other terms/words euphemisms for wars. He loves calling them "operations," trying to give the long suffering Israeli population the idea that we're not at war. You can also use the word "skirmish." Anything but war, because if it's a war, we have to really win it, meaning that the enemy should surrender. 

The routine has been that our cities and towns are bombed by dangerous rockets shot by Gazan terrorists. Miraculously few Israelis are killed. Bibi thanks the Iron Dome, an Israeli invention that we foolishly gave the Americans the rights to produce some necessary parts instead of making sure it's 100% made in Israel. That's why America has us hanging...

Israel's response is to waste our weapons. We faux morally warn the enemy to leave their buildings, so innocents shouldn't be harmed. Now, do you really think that only innocents--as if there are any truly innocent Gazans-- leave the buildings? We bomb empty buildings bragging that we're a "moral army." Our soldiers also carefully enter building to look for "civilians" rather than just destroying them. Many IDF soldiers are killed in the process. The truth is that we're the laughing stocks of the world. Our enemies consider us totally nuts, and they're right.

Instead of fighting until the enemy surrenders, we bomb empty buildings as if bombing empty buildings will make them surrender, Bibi tells us that "we showed them; now they know not to tempt us to fight." That may have been convincing the first time, but we've had too many reruns. 

It's more accurate to call these short wars "target practice for the terrorists."

I don't understand why Netanyahu hasn't been kicked out of office already. Why do people still trust and vote for him? As I keep reminding everyone, I wasn't alone when I heard him say he'd rule as a "centrist." Read Impressive, August, 2008.

This is also from Rami Levi, and I wear it everyday instead of my fashionable necklaces. It says:

OUR HEARTS ARE WITH

IDF SOLDIERS

-------------

AM YISRAEL CHAI

THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL LIVES

We have to fight to win!

We must destroy the enemy-- no warnings!

--no food, water, fuel for the enemy!

War isn't a game. 

We're fighting for our very survival.

An Indisputable Victory, Gd Willing

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #22: Bibi Failed Judicial Reform; Time for New PM from the Right

I have no doubt that Israel desperately needs Judicial Reform, and it's clear to me that Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has sabotaged the campaign. The task to get Judicial Reform passed was given to Minister of Justice Yariv Levin, who had emerged number one in Likud Primaries. 

Bibi threw him under the bus.

1- Bibi didn't use his PR, hasbara, oratory skills to promote the issue.

2- Bibi does not like anyone who may be a competitor/successor. There's a long history of pushing people down and away. He set up Yariv Levin to get schlogged. Remember that Yariv Levin was the #1 vote getter in Likud Primaries. That makes him the obvious successor to Netanyahu who was the automatic #1 on the list.

3- Kohelet Forum assisted Levin and staff in formulating the bill to reform the Judicial system. Now it's is suffering financial difficulties. Bibi has financial sources/backers to help Kohelet, but he'd rather they sink and Judicial Reform fail.

Don't forget that Bibi plays dirty. That's how he destroyed Bennett's government, and that's how he pushed Bennett out of Likud. Yes, Bennett was one of the many. Bibi has been head of the Likud for so long that when I point out his failures to others, they say that there's no one to replace him. That's not true. Bibi has failed too many times. 

We need a truly patriotic and confident leader who won't grovel to the USA for help, nor show it our military plans.... Need I go on?

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #18: Demand to Force Draft of Chareidim is to Break Coalition

 

I love this set of three mugs which picture/symbolize the range of Jewish Israelis from non-religious old time kibbutznikim to chareidim. Am Yisrael Chai! The People of Israel Lives! Yachad Ninatze'ach! Together Victorious!

One of the most beautiful and encouraging things I've seen in this horrifying war for the State of Israel's very survival has been the involvement of all sectors of Israeli society, and that does include chareidim. 

In the more than half a century I've lived in Israel, there has been a steady, quiet change in the involvement of chareidim with the rest of Israeli society. Today Israelis of all levels of Torah observance enjoy the services of various gmachim like Yad Sarah and first aid services established by chareidim. As strictly Shabbat observant chareidim are, those who are in first aid and emergency services keep their phones on 24/7, so they were among the first to try to rescue the dead and wounded in southern Israel on that nightmarish Simchat Torah on October 7, 2023. This was even before the army had gotten themselves organized. And, yes, if you're wondering, ambulance crews were murdered, too. 

Within days of the start of the war, Hamas trying to destroy Israel, many chareidim made their way to the IDF offices to sign up and join the army. Joining the army is a process, since recruits and volunteers must be assessed to see their abilities to find the most suitable unit. Newspapers and television news showed them lined up waiting their turn for assessment. It certainly made me feel good. And to make it clear, I'm not at all chareidi. It's not my cup of tea.

As this war has dragged on, one of the most comforting thing has been seeing the volunteerism in Israeli society. Yes, that includes chareidim among others coming to the hotels where Israelis who had to leave their homes were staying, and bringing them supplies, toys, doing people's laundry and more. Yachad Ninatzeach UNITED WE WIN!

So why did Defense Minister Yoav Gallant suddenly make a speech demanding an end to the army exemption for yeshiva students*? With his army experience he must certainly know that angry resentful people make for terrible soldiers! And why now, in the middle of a war for the country's survival would he want to shake up Israeli society in such a way?

No doubt Gallant wants to break up the coalition, which simply put is Likud plus dati leumi (national religious) and chareidi parties.

Considering that a sizable portion of Likud MKs are either religious or traditional, I guess Gallant feels like a fish out of water. Has he made a deal with another political party....? Considering Benny Gantz's unauthorized trip to the USA... something stinks for sure.

*Despite the exemption, chareidim do serve in the army in various roles, and numbers have been growing. 

Israel Attacked by Hamas 2023/5784, War Musings #12 Heads Should Roll, Major Security Snafu

The latest sad war news is the misidentification of Israeli hostages for terrorists and their subsequent deaths. Unfortunately, "friendly fire" deaths are common in all wars. It's definitely heartbreaking, but the soldiers have barely seconds to react, and the Hamas Gazan terrorists love playing these mind games and tricks. 

I started working on this post a couple of weeks ago, and now I know why it has taken me so long. Siyata d'Shmaya, the hand of Gd played a role for sure. Those young, tired soldiers had seen their friends and officers die and had certainly been warned not to take chances. Their lives are precious, and they're trying to save the entire State of Israel. These young soldiers are the ones facing the enemy, not those who ensconced in their cushy offices who misread the signs. Read Yaakov Katz's article.

There's no polite way of saying this, but Israel's security experts goofed בגדול bagadole; that means BIG TIME, and I'm not exaggerating at all. It wasn't a simple "maybe." We had real details and films of the Hamas Gazan terrorists training. But for some fatal reason, the higher up "experts" didn't take it seriously. Check out the links below, and let me know what you think.

Kan News

How Hamas built a force to attack Israel on 7 October

IDF elite intel officer warned about Hamas attacks, ignored - report

Unfortunately, as someone who made aliyah even before the 1973 Yom Kippur War, I'm not surprised to hear that lookouts had noticed suspicious movements on our southern border in the months before the "surprise" attack on Simchat Torah. And even more worrying and familiar, deja vu, is the fact that these reports were pooh poohed. Making it even worse was that these alert lookouts were threatened with court martial. 

I hope the lookouts are promoted and all those "superior officers" who threatened them be court marshalled, convicted and deprived of their cushy pensions. 

Unfortunately, half a century after the Yom Kippur War, the "conceptzia" still reigns in the IDF and Defense Ministry. Our totally miraculous victory in the 1967 Six Days War was misconstrued as proof that the IDF Israel Defense Forces is the great victor, rather than crediting Gd Almighty for making all the difference and giving us a quick victory. Entering the Sinai, Judea/Samaria/Jordan Valley and Syria for the Golan Heights weren't even Israeli military plans. Think about it.

In 1967 no foreign country "helped" us at all, so we were on a fast track to Gd's miracles. There's no other explanation. Military experts have no other explanation.

Unfortunately, the Israeli military establishment keeps insisting that our victory was due to their military superiority, brains and skills. That's the misconception aka "conceptzia."

We're paying a very heavy price for keeping the same mindset. Our IDF and military upper echelons need a serious overhaul. Knock down that glass ceiling. 

In recent years Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has kept us from destroying Hamas when we have had chances. For the past decade plus we've been plagued with a series of mini-wars aka "operations" which end in what could be described as military impotence. 

Bibi must be replaced from within the coalition. There's lots of talent in Likud. It's time to bring in strong leadership, no more tired old failed policies. It's time for strong leaders to prove their stuff and save the country. 

We need to win this war!!

Israel Attacked by Hamas 2023/5784, War Musings #10, Paraphrasing Truman: The Buck Stops... Where?

I've been relatively polite about Bibi. 

Remember what Harry Truman said: 

"The buck stops here." 

It's clear that Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu, the man who broke all records as longest serving Israeli Prime Minister is very responsible for every failure. And he brought into his war cabinet others responsible, who made the decisions, policies the State of Israel is suffering from. 

Naïve people voted for him, Likud, thinking Bibi's on the patriotic Right, but he's not.

Photo of Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu I took many years ago at the 1st International Bloggers Conference

I'll say one more thing. Even though I don't vote Likud, for reasons I won't get into now though you can search my blog if you're curious, I'm a member of the party and vote in its primaries. Gd willing there will be elections for a new #1, replacement for Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu after we win this war. There are quite a number a talented potential Prime Ministers waiting in the wings. I hope that only one runs against Netanyahu, or even better that he officially retire.

In the meantime I pray that Gd will give our prime minister the wisdom and moral strength to lead us to victory. That is the most important thing right now!