From Yamit to the Building Freeze: What Can Be Done?

Moshe Feiglin
Manhigut Yehudit
15 Elul, 5770
25 August '10


What can the faith-based public suggest as an alternative to the terrible situation currently facing Israel?

First, we must admit that until today we have never managed to halt Israel's process of collapse – not in Yesha and not outside it. Decades of demonstrations, countless PR campaigns and outreach projects, intelligent articles and even good satire that has begun to appear here and there – have not succeeded and apparently will not succeed in stopping the collapse.

Manhigut Yehudit in the Likud has also not succeeded in turning its political power inside the Likud into a tool that will prevent the collapse. We succeeded in forcing a Likud referendum on the Expulsion and we succeeded in adding a number of excellent MKs to the Likud list. We enjoyed many tactical successes. But we did not manage to prevent the strategic disintegration.

From the very start, Manhigut Yehudit has always reiterated that we did not enter the Likud to prevent retreats. Rather, we entered the Likud to establish an alternative for leadership for our country. Nevertheless, this week many journalists asked us if we would fight against the new political program that is gathering steam. Obviously, we will use our political power to the best of our ability. But judging by the results of the past, success or failure does not depend on us or on any other political factor.

Gush Emunim did not build the settlements. The Nation of Israel did. Gush Emunim leaders Hanan Porat, Beni Katzover and Daniella Weiss simply knew how to tug at the nation's romantic Zionist heartstrings. When the Nation of Israel willed it – the settlements were built. And when it no longer willed it, they were built no more. The faith-based public did not provide an alternative to the lost connection to our Land. It simply protested. Since the days of Yamit, we are still stopping the retreat from Sinai.

The struggles that we have led until now have not solved the problem. On the contrary; they have perpetuated it. After two thousand years of exile, the Nation of Israel returned to its Land and for some reason, decided to leave G-d outside. There are many explanations as to why the Return to Zion took place in this way. But today's reality is that the Jewish sovereignty that was renewed in the Land of Israel is playing on the "normalcy" arena according to the rules and values of the Western world.

Since the Six Day War of miracles, our demonstrations and claims against all the governments in Israel have been based on our acceptance of the axiom that this arena and these rules of the game are the best and most efficient possible. That is our greatest mistake. All the players that the national camp has put on the playing field were excellent leaders. Begin, Shamir, Sharon and Netanyahu – each in his own time – brought their own unique talents to the arena: Integrity and ideals, stubbornness, bravery and political acumen. Whoever thinks that he could lead the nation better on the existing arena and with the present rules is simply fooling himself.

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