From Yamit to the Building Freeze

By Moshe Feiglin 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. In last week's update, we wrote about Israel's decision to buy F35 jets from the US. The debate in Israel over the purchase of the fighter jets was predicated on cost versus benefit. On the arena on which this game is being played, these are the only relevant considerations. Nobody would even think of asking if it is proper at all to use American jets. On the surface, this is a superfluous question. The American jets are the best in the world and we need the most advanced weapons systems for our cutting edge air force. While this is true, a broader analysis will show us that the nuclear bomb that the modern-day Hitler will now clearly attain – was not halted by the American jets. Worse yet, these very jets are a major part of the reason that Iran will have its nuclear bomb: The main claim of those who opposed bombing Iran without Obama's consent was "What will Israel do without American spare parts for its fighter jets?" We cannot cast the blame for Israel's impotence in the face of Iran's nuclear aspirations exclusively on the prime minister. The problem goes much deeper than that. Israel's collective mentality cannot think outside the box of the current arena and rules of the game. The problem with that is that these rules are leading to Israel's annihilation. The solution, of course, is to create a new consciousness in Israel. We must establish an all-encompassing alternative to the present arena. It must be political and ideological, personal and practical. When Israel will sense that it has an alternative, there will be a reason to go out and demonstrate. Perhaps, there will not even be a need to do so.