The Division that is not Enlisting

As we witness our brave and motivated soldiers marching into battle, it is astonishing to know that there is an entire division that could determine the outcome of the battle to save Israel from its bad leaders - but it is still in storage in the military warehouse.


No, it is not an army division, even though its head was a General Commanding Officer. The division's mission is not even life threatening. So why doesn't it enlist?


The division is made up of the 6000 members of Effie Eitam's Achi party, some of whom were convinced a year ago to leave the Likud to join the newly formed Achi. According to the agreement that Achi signed last week with the Likud, its members may immediately join the Likud and vote without the mandatory 16 month waiting period until they are allowed to vote in Likud elections and without the three year waiting period until they are allowed to run in Likud elections.


6,000 voters is a huge force. If it enters the Likud now, this division will wield tremendous influence on the elections to the all-important Likud committees that will be held after the general elections. The Achi members will also wield indirect influence on the Knesset members of the leadership party of the National Camp - the Likud. The Likud leaders and MKs will know that the ideological public exists and that if they want to win an additional Knesset term, they must represent it.


But instead of finalizing its agreement with the Likud and receiving compensation in exchange for the tremendous boost that Achi has given the Likud, the party prefers to postpone the decision on whether to become Likud members or not until next year. In other words, Effie Eitam prefers that he and all those who registered for Achi will be irrelevant on the most important front that exists today in the leadership battle now being waged in Israel. Knowing the Likud - and particularly Netanyahu - I am convinced that the window of opportunity through which the Achi members can register for the Likud is only until Election Day - at most. Those things that will not be accomplished quietly and quickly before the elections will not happen after the elections. Until Election Day, the Likud will not be able to ignore the existence of the agreement with Achi and will be forced to accept all the Achi members into the party. After the election the Likud will shirk the agreement and will accept no one.


We turn to Effie Eitam and to all those who registered for Achi. Run quicky and register for the Likud en masse. This battle is more important than the goal-less battles being waged in Gaza. It is not life threatening and it only costs 64 shekels for a single and 96 for a couple. Hurry up and register. Before it is too late.