It Smells Like Elections

The Prime Minister survived the Ulpana crisis with the generous help of the settlers. It is still not clear how the draft crisis will be resolved, but one way or another, we have entered a new elections phase. The entire political system is working on this assumption.

Manhigut Yehudit is not part of this scene. Since we entered politics, we have set clear goals for ourselves. For years, we have been tirelessly working toward these goals without getting off track. When the political system works from within itself, for itself and without any purpose above and beyond itself – the chaos that we are now witnessing is born. We are not great politicians: But it has become clear that the presence of a goal and perseverance in reaching it are a first class political asset.

Manhigut Yehudit's political power is growing all the time. Moshe Feiglin is growing stronger and it is clear that when the time comes for elections, Moshe will be there, a distinctly unique factor in the leadership arena.

As in every election season, people become confused and fall once again into the honey trap of enchanting sectoral candidates. It is a seasonal phenomenon. Just as the sun shines, so new rightist parties are born before every election. It is always a great temptation to shorten the road. It is tempting to remain in the comfortable sectoral niche and to think that you are influencing something; to think that the Religious Zionist under-representation is due to certain personalities and is not essential. It is tempting to think that if we would only unite, if we would only find the most talented leader, we will return to the days of glory of yesteryear. In short, it is tempting to think that we can declare our affinity to the Return to Zion but to evade taking responsibility to lead it.

"Feiglin always fails," says National Union MK Aryeh Eldad. Eldad and his friends never fail – simply because they are not in the arena where the competition is taking place. They haven't failed because from where they are, they cannot fail. But they cannot succeed, either.

We are steadily progressing toward leadership of the national camp and of the nation. This is a revolution that frightens many Religious Zionists, who will do everything they can to thwart it. In the previous elections, we proved that it is possible to approach the Nation of Israel with the truth as we see it, to present it through a candidate with a kippah on his head and to merit tremendous backing. There are no magic solutions; not for the settlements and not for the other basic problems from which Israel suffers. The only real solution is the establishment of a clear goal coupled with new, faith-based leadership for our country. The fact that we have established this goal and are progressing step by step has greatly influenced the political arena. It helps the settlements more than any other attempted solutions. But we must not be blind to reality: As long as we have not reached the leadership position, we can do no more than influence on the tactical plane. Until then, we will not be able to stop the strategic deterioration.