Judaism and Democracy for Israel

Moshe Feiglin
Manhigut Yehudit
17 Tevet, 5770
03 January '10

One of our ideas was to block Israel's major Tel-Aviv – Jerusalem highway in the Latrun area. It was summer, 5755 (1995) and the Zo Artzeinu movement that I headed was set to block major roads throughout Israel in an attempt to stop Oslo in its track. We were on the lookout for creative ways to get the public to understand the dangers of the impending collapse. We pored over maps of Israel and found the point where the broad Tel-Aviv – Jerusalem highway exits the boundaries of the "Green Line" and cuts through "Occupied Territory." Our idea was to declare a new state there.

I was reminded of that episode when I heard of the Israel High Court decision to allow Arabs from Judea and Samaria to travel on highway 443, another major artery between Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem.

I don't understand why everybody is so upset. After all, immediately upon retiring from his position as Chief Justice of the High Court, Aharon Barak hurried to explain that he does not see Israel as a Jewish state, but rather, as a state of all its citizens. If that is so, how can we prevent Arabs from traveling on highway 443 on an ethnic basis? Furthermore, this distressing decision is not the first of its kind. What is the difference between highway 443 and road 557, where Meir Chai, may G-d avenge his blood, was recently murdered after the road was opened to Arab traffic? 443 is in the "occupied territories" and so is 557. Israelis travel on 443 and they travel on 557. If road 557 is opened to the Arabs of Shechem and Tul Karem even though it is clear that it will lead to the murder of Israelis, why is 443 any different?

From a purely judicial standpoint and according to the principles that Israel's courts have established, the High Court decision is logical and predictable. But let us admit the truth. The reason that the issue created such uproar is because, unlike road 557 that only endangers "settlers," highway 443 serves the illusion that the "Separation Fence" along its route provides the Israelis inside with a protected space. And then the High Court comes along and reminds all the Israelis traveling the modern highway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem that they, too, are nothing more than "settlers."

If Justices Beinish and Fogelman had anticipated the public outrage with their decision, they may have decided otherwise. It seems that from the heights of their enlightened ivory tower, they do not really perceive the depth of disgust that the High Court has created in ever-widening spheres of the general public.

(Read full article)
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Feiglin: Only Exclusive Jewish Sovereignty on Temple Mount will End Arab Violence

Manhigut Yehudit
The Jewish Leadership Movement
Press release
October 26, 2009...


Commenting on the Arab riots on the Temple Mount Sunday morning, Manhigut Yehudit head Moshe Feiglin said that as long as Jews were more or less banned from the site, Arab rioting would continue.

Feiglin said that the rioting would not end until "exclusive Israeli sovereignty is restored to the Temple Mount, and Jews receive full rights to pray there."


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Note: Under Israeli law, freedom of worship is technically permitted to those of all religions on the Temple Mount. In practical application, though, things are not so "democratic".

Unfettered access is granted by Israeli police to Muslims to pray as they wish and when they wish on the Temple Mount.

However, Israeli police only permit Jews to ascend to their holiest site (the Temple Mount) on certain days, they must be off the Temple Mount by approximately 9:15AM, and they are forbidden to pray when on the Temple Mount. If a Jew violates the prohibition of praying on their holiest site, they will be arrested immediately. The police use the excuse that "Jews praying on the Temple Mount is a provocation to the Arabs" in order to continue this anti-Jewish policy. It hardly needs to be stated that the Israeli police would not be so bold as to undertake this policy without the blessing of each sitting Israeli Prime Minister.
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The Divine Nature of the Land of Israel

For the land that you are going in order to possess it, is not as the land of Egypt, from where you came out, where you sowed your seeds, and watered it with your foot, as a garden of herbs; but the land, that you go over to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, you will drink water as the rain of heaven comes down; a land which G-d your G-d cares for; the eyes of G-d your G-d are always upon it, from the beginning of the year until the end of the year.
(From this week's Torah portion, Ekev, Deuteronomy 11: 10-12)

Tavor Stream in Israel's North

The Land of Israel is unlike any other lands. The rules of nature do not apply here. Back in Egypt, there was no rain, but the Nile always flowed and irrigation provided a steady source of water for the crops. But when you are always looking down at the Nile, it is easy to forget G-d. All the other lands closely resemble Egypt. While most receive their water from rainfall, the rain is dependable - just like the Nile. You don't have to pray for it.

The Land of Israel is different. In Israel, you must pray for rain. The Land of Israel is situated along a meteorologically unstable latitude that keeps us guessing about rainfall. And it is not only rainfall or lack thereof that keeps the eyes of the Jews in the Land of Israel fixed steadily on heaven. The Land of Israel is situated on a strategic and volatile geographic axis. All the great conquerors traversed the Land. The kings of Israel would never know which side to take in wars that crossed Israel's borders. In politics, as well, the Land of Israel leaves you no choice but to raise your eyes heavenward, to remember Who is running the world and to experience the fact that, " the eyes of G-d your G-d are always upon it, from the beginning of the year until the end of the year."

One of the first things a Jew learns in the Land of Israel is that nature here is supernatural. In Israel, faith in G-d is the pre-eminent law of nature. G-dless leadership in Israel simply cannot succeed here for long. That is why we have elections every two years and that is why any government that is not faith-based serves on borrowed time.

At Manhigut Yehudit, we are patiently preparing ourselves for the next round and are confident that the Divine laws of nature unique to this Land will prevail and triumph.

Shabbat Shalom,

Moshe Feiglin

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