The Likud Primaries Present a Real Choice

January 18, 2012...

The following analysis of the upcoming January 31  primary election for Likud Chairman between Moshe Feiglin and Benjamin Netanyahu, written by Dr. Tuvia Brodie, originally appeared on  Israel National News on January 17, 2012.

The Likud primary election of January 31, 2012 is not about who will be the next head-of-Likud. This primary is not about a politician. It is not about politics. It is about us. It is about how we see ourselves—and how we define our future: are we a nation that is so afraid of others that we should backpedal and bow silently before those who hate us? Or, are we a nation on the threshold of our destiny, confident in our faith, our G-d and our right to our land?

This year’s primary is crucial for our future because we are a nation at war. This might be a minority opinion, but 2012-2014 will bring a war (diplomatic or actual or both) that will seek to delegitimize us, destroy us or haul us before a United Nations that seems to believe we have no right to exist.

It is a war against those who would  destroy us joining with those who would facilitate that destruction-- a scenario built by our enemies that was actually written into the Bible more than 2,200 years ago.

There is no way to avoid this war. It is reasonable to believe that, given the stature of Likud in Israel, the winner of this month’s primary could well be Israel’s next leader. But because we are at war, no matter who gets selected, we will fight some kind of war.

Even if we elect a leftist on a platform of appeasement and surrender—we will still be at war: the enemy is  implacable. Indeed, our history in the Middle East clearly demonstrates that the more Israel offers to surrender, the more aggressive (not peaceful) our enemy becomes. The question voters in Israel will face in the next national election will not be, who will help us avoid war. Rather, the question will be, who will be more steadfast defending us in that war?

On January 31, 2012, Likud has to choose that man: Benjamin Netanyahu or Moshe Feiglin.

Benjamin Netanyahu, while Likud, has chosen to go leftward, not the Likud way. His administration harasses Jews in Judea and Samaria, allows anti-religious secularists in the IDF to pressure and coerce religious soldiers, defends a leftist High Court,  and more.  Israel’s left, like the Hellenists of  yore, rejects the Jewish religion and dedicates itself to a desire to become non-Jewish. Its passion to de-Judaize is the passion of the zealot. The left would give everything holy to those who hate us. Jewish values and Jewish survival are non-starters [for them].

And they refuse to prepare for the consequences of their own peace plan: they offer no plan to re-house up to hundreds of thousands of displaced Jews when the new ‘Palestine’ they promote demands to be Judenrein (Jew-free); they have no plan to pay for securing the new (vulnerable) borders they propose; and they offer no explanation to us how we can expect peace when Arab media, politicians and education feed the Arab public a steady stream of Jew-hatred. They don’t care. They appear so tired of their Jewishness they just want to surrender, to get it over with: why else would they have no interest in planning for the consequences of their ‘peace’ with such people? They are too exhausted to care.

While Mr Netanyahu is not an outright leftist, theirs is the message he appears to have embraced. He rejects Likud. Before the nations of the world, he backpedals, delays and says yes-then-no-then-yes to their demands. By inches, he surrenders. He bows, moves backwards and bows again.

Moshe Feiglin gives Israel an alternative. He will not rush to surrender. He will not appease. He does not fear Israel’s destiny. He will not bow or shuffle backwards. But he will also not be brazen or rash because he understands the Bible, the Tanach. He understands Likud’s platform—and he understands Arab hatred.

A July, 2011 survey found that 58 per cent of Israelis call themselves mildly-strongly religious. That is why so many Israelis identify with Moshe Feiglin. He understands Jewish consciousness. He understands Jewish values.

The Jewish religion does not speak of surrender or bowing to the nations; neither does Moshe Feiglin.  Instead, the Jewish religion speaks of the G-d of Israel. So does Moshe Feiglin.  Israelis understand this. They want a leader who reflects their values. They want to see a leader who believes in G-d. They want to see Jewish courage, not Jews bowing and backpedaling.

Likud voters have a choice: proud Judaism or universal secularism, courage or fear, steadfastness or appeasement.  As I see it, the choice between Moshe Feiglin and Benjamin Netanyahu could not be more distinct.