Annapolis will lead to Dhimmi status for Israel

By Ted Belman

Everything I read about the negotiations leading up to Annapolis and the event itself suggests that a deal has been cut whereby Israel assumes its rightful (according to Islam) role as a Dhimmi in exchange for Saudi acceptance of the existence of Israel.

To understand what this role or status is, I recommend you read this synopsis distilled from Bat Yeor’s seminal book The Dhimmi.

It is unthinkable for Muslims that conquered peoples should rise up and throw off the yoke of Islam or that land once in the domain of Islam should ever be lost to that domain. According to Islamic thinking, once a region has been conquered for Islam, it is always Islamic and must be re-conquered from the infidel, regardless of the passage of time.

They [Dhimmis] were doomed to remain second-class citizens, living, it seemed, for the sole purpose of demonstrating to all, the superiority of Islam over conquered religions.

This is the core of the conflict. Palestine “must be re-conquered from the infidel, regardless of the passage of time”. Israel must submit to Islam. Muslims have been waging Jihad against Israel, both before and after its creation. They employ all tools at their disposal; economic boycotts, propaganda aimed at demonizing and deligitimating Israel just as the Nazis did, propaganda aimed at revising facts both past and present and finally armed struggle.

As Andrew G Bostom, The Legacy of Jihad, noted in Passover and the Ignored Liberation

These uniquely Islamic systems—jihad and its corollary institution, dhimmitude—have shaped events in historical Palestine—modern Israel, Judea, Samaria, Gaza, and Jordan—from 634, through the present, setting in place archetypal patterns still quite evident today.

He goes on to discuss the central role of both Jihad and Dhimmitude in Islam.

In my article The Conspiracy to Shrink Israel I quoted Kissinger’s remarks to an Iraqi diplomat in 1975,

“We don’t need Israel for influence in the Arab world. On the contrary, Israel does us more harm than good in the Arab world [..]

“We can’t negotiate about the existence of Israel but we can reduce its size to historical proportions.

[..] “I don’t agree Israel is a permanent threat. How can a nation of three million be a permanent threat? They have a technical advantage now. But it is inconceivable that peoples with wealth and skill and the tradition of the Arabs won’t develop the capacity that is needed. So I think in ten to fifteen years Israel will be like Lebanon–struggling for existence, with no influence in the Arab world.”

Essentially Kissinger was assuring him that Israel’s dominance would be short lived and the US would help to bring this about. The Arabs couldn’t stand the idea of being dominated by Israel or Jews.

Thus the nature of the negotiations heretofore is that Israel must submit to Arab demands. Thus no negotiations at all at least not on the basics. Master and supplicant do not negotiate, The master dictates.

One of these basics is the Temple Mount. It is inconceivable that Islam, as represented by the Al Aqsa Mosque, be subject to Jewish sovereignty. It must be the other way around.

Israel must be so weakened that Arab dominance and Israel inferiority in security matters must be palpable. Israel must appear to exist under Islamic sufferance.

Dhimmis are also inferior to Muslims and thus are accorded no rights or respect. This was demonstrated at Annapolis by requiring Israeli delegates to enter through the “servant’s door” and by the refusal by the Arab delegates to shake Livni’s hand. This is more than petty; it is a demonstration of dominance and the US enabled such treatment thereby showing its own dhimmi status.

Bat Yeor observed, that jihad remained,

…the main cause of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Since Israelis are to be regarded, perforce, only as a religious community, their national characteristics – a geographical territory related to a past history, a system of legislation, a specific language and culture – are consequently denied. The “Arab” character of the Palestinian territory is inherent in the logic of jihad. Having become fay territory by conquest (i.e. “taken from an infidel people”), it must remain within the dar al-Islam. The State of Israel, established on this fay territory, is consequently illegal.

And she concluded,

…Israel represents the successful national liberation of a dhimmi civilization. On a territory formerly Arabized by the jihad and the dhimma, a pre-Islamic language, culture, topographical geography, and national institutions have been restored to life. This reversed the process of centuries in which the cultural, social and political structures of the indigenous population of Palestine were destroyed. In 1974, Abu Iyad, second-in-command to Arafat in the Fatah hierarchy, announced: “We intend to struggle so that our Palestinian homeland does not become a new Andalusia.” The comparison of Andalusia to Palestine was not fortuitous since both countries were Arabized, and then de-Arabized by a pre-Arabic culture.

The Arabs realize that they cannot at this point wipe Israel off the map and so they are prepared to live with a greatly truncated and humiliated Israel, temporarily. But we must understand that Islamic “peace” and Israel are mutually exclusive. Israel is only postponing the day it will have to fight for its existence.

Since the West is accepting Dhimmi status even before it is conquered why shouldn’t it demand Israel do likewise.

Where Is The Right Hiding?

By Moshe Feiglin

Kislev, 5768
Dec., '07

Translated from the Makor Rishon newspaper

If the Likud would be run according to its constitution, it would have applied Israeli sovereignty over all parts of the Land of Israel that are in our hands long ago. But currently, the Likud is not run according to its own principles. Its ideology has been replaced by pragmatism. Today's Likud is convinced that in order to rule, it must access votes from Israel's Center. There in the Center, the Likud believes, waits a vast pool of voters who determine which party will win the elections. And so the Likud puts its ideology aside and vies for the elusive center of the voter pie.

A number of weeks ago, Dr. Asher Cohen, a senior lecturer at the Political Science Department of Bar Ilan University, put a wrench in the Likud's theory. According to a survey that he conducted on the political identity of Israel's citizens, 29% described themselves as Center. 15% defined themselves as moderate Right, and Dr. Cohen logically identifies them with Likud voters. But now for the big surprise: an additional 12% of those right of the Likud defined themselves as plain Right, while a whopping 22% of those right of the Likud defined themselves as extreme Right. All in all, 34% of Israel's rightists -- a full third of Israel's voters -- consider themselves to be politically right of the Likud!

Where, then, according to Dr. Cohen, is the Right hiding? His answer is simple. Those who defined themselves as Right and extreme Right by and large voted for Lieberman and Shas. They are currently "hiding" deep inside Ehud Olmert's government.

In light of these statistics, we can clearly see how erroneous the Likud's attempt to attract votes from the political Center really is. To the left of the Likud there is a bank of 29% of voters who define themselves as Center, while to the Likud's Right, the bank has 34% of Israel's voters. Why, then, does the Likud consistently attempt to woo the Left/Center voters? Not only are there less of them, but they already have a political home in Kadimah or the Labor party.

Clearly, if the Likud wants to return to the 48 Knesset seats that it once held (4 times what it has now) it must appeal to its natural constituency and proudly display its ideology, instead of denying it. But in practice, we see just the opposite. Likud chairman Netanyahu announces that he sees Ehud Barak as a worthy candidate for defense minister in a Likud-led government. In other words, the entire Right "bank" will have no influence on the policies of the Likud. In addition, Bibi is investing much of his energy into an attempt to neutralize the ideological voices in the Likud. His actions send a clear message to one third of the voters in Israel: You are not Likudnicks.

This is a no win situation. The first to lose is the Likud, which time and again loses the elections and has become a pale shadow of the Left. The second loser is the National Camp, which remains captive in the hands of the Left -- even when, on the surface, the Likud wins the elections. And most importantly, the entire State of Israel loses its only chance to survive and halt the blind march to its own destruction.

It is highly unlikely that anyone can convince Netanyahu to change direction and appeal to the Right bank of voters. As I have written in the past, the foundations of that problem are much deeper than its political reflection. But whether we like it or not, the key to the consolidation of the Right and Israel's rescue is exclusively with the Likud. Instead of splintering off into more and more right wing parties that will remain insignificant as long as the Likud stays connected to the Left; instead of deliberating whether to demonstrate with or without a permit, the Right must simply join the Likud and restore the ruling party to its own hands.

We Have Lots to Smile About

The Jewish majority is winning -- and it doesn't even notice! The settlements in Judea and Samaria are growing faster than in any other area of Israel. Many of the settlements have absolutely no room for new families. A new and vigorous generation has grown up in the settlements. Most of them choose to remain in Judea and Samaria after they marry and start their own families. The youth, inspired by the Homesh activists, stubbornly cling to the outposts that they put up on Sukkot and are planning more outposts for Chanukah. A steady and determined group of youth has managed to remain in Homesh since the summer. We are also winning the demographic race. Slowly but surely, the Jewish nation in the Land of Israel is awakening. The birthrate of religious Jews is higher than the Arab birthrate and the general demographic picture is now in favor of the Jews. And most importantly -- our Jewish identity. 83% of the Jews in Israel will be lighting Chanukah candles throughout the entire eight day holiday. These statistics reinforce the yearly Jewish identity polls that show Israel's Jewish identity to be constantly on the rise. "When I began to study Judaism," a once-secular friend recently told me, "my friends were convinced that I had gone off the deep end. Now, if you are on the trendy Sheinkin St. and you don't learn Judaism, you are simply not 'in.'" The Jewish majority is winning! It clings to its homeland and to its identity, its enemies' numbers are diminishing while its own numbers are increasing! Just as during the historical Chanukah, the battle seems to be against Israel's enemies. But the real battle is for the soul and leadership of the large and healthy Jewish majority in the Land of Israel. On that front as well, Manhigut Yehudit is progressing by leaps and bounds. Moshe Feiglin has almost nightly meetings with Likud members throughout Israel, and the positive feedback is tremendously encouraging. We are sure that when election time comes, much of that support will turn into votes for Jewish leadership for Israel!

Chanukah's Message: Take Responsibility

On Chanukah, we celebrate Israel's independence from Greek rule. Judaism is founded on independence; the freedom to take responsibility for one's life choices. On a national level, citizens who have lost the will to take responsibility for their lives and instead rely on the State to decide for them have essentially surrendered their freedom.

Chanukah is a potent reminder that every single Jew must take responsibility for his life and ultimately, for his nation. This is certainly clear on the political level. That is why Manhigut Yehudit has taken responsibility and is working to provide Israel with authentic Jewish leadership. It is also true for every other facet of our lives. Israel's health system is not geared to keep us healthy? Let's get involved and work for a Jewish system that emphasizes maintaining good health. Israel's welfare system is in a state of advanced decay, with social workers advising the needy to turn to private organizations? Let's build a completely overhauled welfare system, based on Jewish ideals.

Now that Israel's educational system has collapsed, we have the perfect opportunity to take responsibility for our children's education. 80% of the parents of Israel's students define themselves as religious or traditional. In general, religious parents see to it that their children receive a Jewish education. But the vast amount of traditional Israelis who send their children to Israel's public schools are allowing the State to indoctrinate their children with the anti Jewish-identity views of Education Minister, Yuli Tamir.

How is it that although Tamir has severely reduced the hours devoted to Jewish heritage in Israel's public schools, she adamantly insists that our children learn about the Arab nakba, or the catastrophe of the founding of the State of Israel? Why are violence and abuse an accepted part of the public school experience? How is it that the average child in Israel's public school system cannot complete the age-old, quintessential Jewish saying, "Shema Yisrael?" It is time for the hundreds of thousands of parents who comprise Israel's Jewish majority to demand an educational system that reflects their values.

The temptation to give up freedom of choice and just let the state take over is immense. It has the same allure as idol worship. When there is no good or bad and no responsibility, there is no need to choose. One can surrender his 'human advantage' and just drift down whatever stream the state dispenses. This Chanukah, we must restore our freedom to make choices and take responsibility. May we be inspired to exercise our G-d given freedom of choice, take responsibility for our national lives and fill Israel with the Jewish light of Chanukah all year around!

Everyone is switching to the radicals, US included

By Ted Belman

Ahmadinejad enters Gulf states summit hall hand in hand with Saudi king Abdullah and Sultan Qaboos of Oman

The Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad leader was invited for the first time to the OCC meeting of six Gulf Cooperation Council leaders which opened in Doha Monday, Dec. 3. DEBKAfile: His warm welcome by the “moderate” Arab rulers further bankrupts Washington’s policy backed by Israel’s Olmert government, which attempts to draw a distinction between “radical” and “moderate” Middle East governments.

That’s it. Ball game over. The US has been trying to hold a non-existent coalition together by its finger tips.

Last year I speculated that the US ordered Abbas to take a dive in Gaza. The reason being to allow the peace process to go forward in the West Bank. It needed to separate Hamas from the government in Ramallah and so it began to undue the elections.

Saudi Arabia wasn’t happy and met in the beginning of this year with Iran. No break through was reported. But in February, Saudi Arabia stabbed the US in the back by engineering the Mecca Accords bringing them back together. That was a shocker.

Then in March, Ralph Peters warned US is wrong to bed with the Saudis

But the greater, long-term danger is one this column has highlighted before: The administration’s rush back into the arms of the Saudis and other America-hating Sunni Arab governments is a colossal strategic mistake.

The US had to beg Saudi Arabia to attend Annapolis and met most of its demands. Syria was invited and the Israelis were humiliated. Though Hamas was not invited as requested by the Saudi’s, Hamas rules with Saudi support. In effect, Hamas has a veto as does Syria.

If that wasn’t enough, the Saudi Arabia sided with Syria against the US in accepting a pro-Syrian Prime Minister for Lebanon as reported yesterday. Actually according to Caroline Glick, in Our friends the Syrians,

By inviting Syria to Annapolis, the Americans told the anti-Syrian forces in Lebanon all they needed to know. Bowing to the reality of America’s abandonment, they gave in and announced their support for Suleiman.

Suleiman’s ascension to the Lebanese presidency is disastrous to the US for two reasons. First, it destroys US credibility as an ally. Between Rice’s decision to put the squeeze on Israel for massive concessions to the terror-supporting Palestinians, to her lackadaisical attitude to Russia’s abuse of US allies in Ukraine and Poland, to her abandonment of Japan in favor of appeasing North Korea, to her neglect of pro-US political forces in Iraq, Rice’s preference for Syria over Lebanese democrats makes it clear that there is no advantage to be gained from being pro-American.

[..] The lethal force of a terror-ruled Lebanon, situated strategically on the Mediterranean coast presents an even greater threat to US national security

Today DEBKA reported that the US took the military option off the table vis-a-vis Iran. It also reported a Syrian al Qaeda operation in Gaza.

And now we have the Saudi King Abdullah walking hand in hand with Ahmedinejad.

Syrian attendance at Annapolis, thought by many to suggest tension between it and Iran, is of no consequence because Iran Says Ties With Syria Rock Solid

It would appear that the US has switched to the radicals to be on the winning side. For that matter everyone is switching to them, including Israel. Israel has appointed Russia as a mediator to arrange for a Syrian/Israel deal where Israel would give up the Golan.

Why Don't the Advocates Of Peace Understand This?

By Ted Belman, IsraPundit

About a month ago, I wrote Annapolis is about wiping Israel off the map. A devotee of Israpundit wrote to say that I went too far in accusing the US of that. Since I believe that accepting the Saudi Peace Plan would place Israel in mortal danger, I advised him that in criminal law, when one proceeds in reckless disregard of the consequences, one is deemed to have intended them. That is not to say that there are not many in the State Department who do in fact want to see the end of Israel.

Recently I advised Why I hate Annapolis and this article was widely distributed. One lawyer wrote to say in effect “Hogwash”. I wrote him back with a few facts and he backed off and said there were two ways to look at things. I agree. The right way and the wrong way, but I am sure he didn’t mean it in that sense.

Other leftists wrote that we must pursue Annapolis if we desire peace. That’s the holy grail but none of them questions whether it will in fact lead to peace. For them it is an axiom. I want peace and that’s why I reject it.

Today I posted an article by Prof Barry Rubin, Annapolis, in which he explains why peace is not obtainable,

The reason the issue persists is twofold. First, the Palestinians and a very large portion of their fellow Arabs still want and expect total victory. They don’t seek compromise because they don’t really want a two-state solution, at least not as more than a temporary stage leading to Israel’s disappearance from the map. Thus, while there is endless talk about Israeli concessions and commitments but virtually nothing about what is required by the other side. Why? Because they won’t give anything and pointing that out too explicitly shows there is no chance of real progress.

Second, Arab politics needs the conflict’s continuation. Incumbent regimes require it to provide a scapegoat so they can mobilize support for themselves and as an excuse letting them explain away their own multiple failures. The Islamist oppositions need it as a slogan in their pursuit of power. Fatah is in the first category; Hamas in the second.

And there you have it.

Stop Complaining, Take Effective Action

One after the other, the speakers rose to eulogize Ido Zoldon, may G-d avenge his blood. Almost all of them spoke about the same thing; Jewish leadership for Israel. The most articulate was MK Effie Eitam; "We will establish new leadership for the Nation of Israel," Eitan proclaimed. It was clear to him and to all those present that belief based leadership is the solution to Israel's woes. Everybody seems to understand that Israel needs authentic Jewish leadership. But daily, frustrated and concerned Jews accusingly ask Manhigut Yehudit, "And what are you doing now to save Jerusalem?" Why aren't these people daily asking the right wing organizations why they are staging demonstrations instead of joining forces with those who are working on establishing alternative leadership? The truth is, that while most of the right wing public has internalized that it can expect nothing from neither Right nor Left, it by and large has not yet integrated the consciousness necessary to lead. Israel's Jewish majority and particularly the Orange Camp, has not yet accepted the fact that it must literally take the reigns. The rightists don't believe Olmert -- but are not willing to fill his shoes. They prefer Olmert 2 or Olmert 3. They prefer to remain in the demonstration rut, feverishly changing their right sock with their left sock and back again until the bitter end. What is Manhigut Yehudit doing today? Exactly what we did yesterday and what we will do tomorrow. We are focusing on creating the Jewish leadership alternative. Those people who ask what we are doing actually want to know how we are solving the problem within the familiar albeit failed parameters within which they feel comfortable. In other words, they want somebody to solve the problem without taking responsibility and without striving to lead. Our almost daily meetings with Likudniks, registration for the Likud and the progress along the muddy path that leads to leadership do not interest them. They want another spectacular demonstration and nothing that requires a major commitment. Manhigut Yehudit does not have a solution for those people. The Yesha Council or one of its sub-groups will certainly organize nice demonstrations for them. Who knows? Maybe it will even organize a march around the walls of Jerusalem just like the march around the fences of Kfar Maimon? There is no solution other than Jewish leadership for Israel. Our day to day efforts have been bearing fruits now, as the situation becomes more difficult and challenging. Our work to convince Likud members of the Jewish leadership alternative and the many people who had registered for the Likud through Manhigut Yehudit brought us almost one quarter of the votes in the recent primaries for chairman of the Likud. We are still working hard. With G-d's help, this constant effort will translate into Moshe Feiglin's high placement on the Likud Knesset list -- as a stepping stone to creating the Jewish leadership alternative. Support Manhigut Yehudit Today Now is the time! Your donation can turn the State of the Jews into the Jewish State. Joining Manhigut Yehudit is much more than just a donation. Now you're part of the team! You don't need to be living in Israel Support Manhigut Yehudit Today

Over The Counter Jewish Identity

By Moshe Feiglin

Last Shabbat, Foreign Minister Tzippy Livni went into her local Tel Aviv Super- Pharm to fill a prescription. The Arab clerk behind the counter identified the Foreign Minister and refused to serve her. The clerk was so incensed by Tzippy Livni's statement that "a Palestinian state is not only the solution for the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria, but also for those Arabs who live among us," that he was unwilling to serve her, even at the price of his job.

As long as the rebellion of Israel's Arabs was "just" a matter of arson, car theft, robbery, rape, tax evasion, illegal building, forest burning, theft of road signs and monuments, wild driving and vandalism, Foreign Minister Livni and her friends preferred to turn a blind eye -- leaving Israel's citizens to fend for themselves against the fifth column threatening them from within the borders of the State of Israel. Even after we discovered the deep level of cooperation between Israel's Arabs and the terror organizations, Israel's leaders continued to close their eyes.

But now, Israel's Arabs are overtly attacking the definition of the State of Israel as a Jewish state. Tzippy Livni doesn't understand. Her irrelevant attempt to deal with the threat hanging over the Jewish identity of the State by re-channeling Arab nationalist ambitions to the Palestinian state that she is working so hard to establish in Jerusalem and Yesha is precisely what angered the Arab clerk.

Over the millennia, there have always been Jews who have remained faithful to the Divine directive to settle the Land of Israel. 120 years ago, these Jews began to return to the land and even established a state. But the Jewish nationalist movement chose to re-establish the state by disengaging from its original Jewish identity and replacing it with superficial "Israeli" identity.

The Arabs are on the other side of the historical stage. They never had a significant bond to the Land of Israel. From the time that Abraham expelled Ishmael to the desert, there was never a nationalist Arab movement that aimed to build its national home in the Land of Israel. For thousands of years, the Land of Israel was open to the Arabs. As long as the Jews were not here, the land did not interest them. But when the Jews began to make the deserted land flourish, foreign workers from the Arabian desert came to find work. That is how the "Palestinian nation" was created.

Today, the ancient Jews who attempted to establish a state without Judaism are on the defensive. Currently, they are pitifully trying to save the last remnants of their vacuous "Israeli" identity by giving Jerusalem and Israel's heartland to the Arabs. The new "Palestinians," though, are proudly on the offensive and a young and scornful Arab clerk happily dispenses with his Super Pharm job just so that he can express his national pride.

To understand this complex phenomenon, we have to look at its beginning. Israel's Foreign Minister -- the woman who represents Israel to the world -- does not hesitate to publicly desecrate the Jewish holy day, the Shabbat. But the Arab clerk would not let her get away with her denial of her Jewish identity. "No problem," he said to her with his actions, "if you do not honor your Jewish identity, there is no reason for me to take the Jewish state that you have established on my land seriously."

And just to emphasize how erratic Livni's Jewish identity really is, she hurried to announce at Annapolis that "The sides in the conflict have changed. There are no longer Arabs against Jews, but extremists against moderates." She really is no match for the Arab Super-Pharm clerk.

Way To Go, Beitar!

By Moshe Feiglin

Cheshvan, 5768
November, 2008

This article was translated from the Makor Rishon newspaper, after the Beitar soccer team fans in Jerusalem jeered during the moment of silence in memory of Yitzchak Rabin this week.

Soccer games in Israel have turned into a sort of energy outlet amidst our country's despotic reality. In a way, the games have become reminiscent of the gladiator battles in the Roman colosseums. It is easy to understand why. The Israeli citizen has no political influence over his nation's fate. When he votes Left, he gets Left and when he votes Right he gets double Left. He also has no significant way to express himself within the one-dimensional consciousness that has been forced upon him. The media is completely captive to "Rabin's legacy." The judicial and educational systems represent no values other than "Oslo values." But there was one place left where an average Israeli could still express himself -- at soccer games.

It used to be that all sorts of talking heads would explain the importance of going to soccer games on Shabbat; donning the team colors, cursing the referees and afterwards, returning home to normalcy. The Israeli dictatorship likes that. You can choose to attend the game and you can even curse the referee; who said that this is not a democratic country?

But then the games became more and more violent. When a fan was crushed to death in a post-game riot a number of months ago, I suggested halting all games for a few months until they would once again become competitive sporting events and not war scenes. But modern culture sees the venting of dark urges as a basic privilege that is apparently more important than the value of life (just look at what goes on in Israel's night clubs).

And now, we have been introduced to a new value, even more important than the value of venting basic drives. Some people thought that the freedom in the soccer arenas was absolute. But they were wrong. It is fine to curse the referee, when fans throw firecrackers onto the playing field we will look the other way, and when a fan is trampled to death, we will send more police to the games. But to boo Rabin??? The soccer arenas are supposed to be a place where anger against the Israeli dictatorship is channeled elsewhere. To turn the rage against the dictatorship? Enough is enough!

I am not a Beitar fan, or a fan of any other team. Actually, I prefer to participate in sports rather than to watch them. I am not a Beitar fan, but I am a big fan of Beitar fans. When the Beitar fans jeered Rabin they showed the entire country that there are still a lot of people out there who have not turned into Rabin Robots -- even after even twelve years of pagan brainwashing. These people still have a problem with worshipping Rabin's legacy of hatred, terror and civil war. They still don't have it in them to praise the emperor with no clothes who continues to destroy Israel. They understand how the assassination is used to sell off whatever is left of our country. They see that even the jeers were used by Olmert as a spin to justify selling Jerusalem down the river.

Rabin's legacy is alive and devouring our entire nation. Before the expulsion from Gush Katif, the Left explained that "In the life of every nation or state there is more than one Altalena" (Ami Ayalon) and "We will have to neutralize them by shooting them." (Avshalom Vilan). The people who made these remarks are not the deviant, pariah, radical Left. They are the most legitimate mainstream of Israel's current leadership. This is Rabin's legacy, boiling just under the surface and exploding with the fire of hatred for brothers and obsequiousness to Israel's enemies.

If we need the up-front style of the Beitar fans to burst the bubble of hypocrisy and the devastating march of the emperor with no clothes, then all I can say is "Way to go, Beitar!"

The Druze Got The Picture

By Moshe Feiglin

Cheshvan 5768
Nov., '07

This article, translated from an article on the NRG website, was written after the riots in the Druze village of Peki'in two weeks ago.

Four years ago, I spent a wonderful Shabbat in the predominantly Druze village of Peki'in. Margalit Zinati, whose family had lived in Peki'in consecutively since the destruction of the Second Temple, was still alive. She showed us the ancient synagogue in Peki'in and the thousand year old Torah scroll on display there. We visited the cave where Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai had hidden from the Romans and the graves of the Mishnaic scholars. Peki'in is a place untouched by the 2000 years of exile. It connects you to the simple, healthy foundation of the pre-exile Nation of Israel.

But it was hard not to feel the hostility. Margalit, elderly at the time, had been the last remaining Jew in Peki'in. A few years before our visit, a number of Jewish families had joined her to rekindle the Jewish history of the village. Margalit told us that she and the other Jews in the village were periodically harassed by the Druze neighbors.

Jewish home destroyed in Peki'in last week

As part of my political activities, I have visited Druze villages many times, and I have good friends there. The first time that I attended an elections meeting in a Druze village, I noticed an interesting phenomenon. A number of other Jewish Likud candidates had also come to the meeting to ask for the support of the Druze. One after the other, they got up to speak. Their opening remarks were all the same; "We are all brothers. We are your brothers. You are our brothers. We are brothers, brothers, brothers."

I didn't know exactly what I was going to say. But I knew that I wasn't going to flatter them with false claims of brotherhood. The meeting took place a short time after Ehud Barak had given orders for the IDF to flee Lebanon. The betrayal of our allies, the soldiers of the South Lebanon Army -- was still heavy in the air. I looked at the obviously traditional audience; young people in back, adults in front and the elder leaders in traditional garb in the first rows.

"I am not your brother," I opened my remarks to the astonished crowd, while thinking to myself that I may have just gotten myself into hot water. "I am a Jew and you are Druze. And it is precisely because I understand exactly who I am -- precisely because I am faithful to my identity -- that I know the significance of loyalty and respect for my allies. I look at you and I see how you treasure your identity. He who has no anchor cannot be loyal to anything. Not to his wife, not to his community, not to his nation, not to his land and certainly not to his allies. If Israel's covenant with the Druze is not to end in the same way as its covenant with the South Lebanese Army ended, Israel needs leadership that is loyal to its Jewish identity and does not flee it."

I don't know if the Jews in the hall understood what I was saying, but the Druze certainly did. My words made a strong impression on them that was expressed in the voting booth. The Druze wanted me in the Knesset, but the same Supreme Court that allowed Azmi Bashara to run disqualified my candidacy.

What do we want from the Druze in Peki'in? The Israeli culture of betrayal has pushed their backs against the wall. "Are you crazy?" the atmosphere of betrayal mocks them. "The Israelis are here only temporarily, they bow down to any and every display of Arab nationalism, they have betrayed their own identity and their own land. Deep down, the Israelis think that the Arab claims on the Land are just; that is why they are always looking for 'pragmatic' solutions.' It allows them to run away from the question of justice. Clearly, even though you have established a covenant of blood with them, you do not merit the same respect that the Arabs receive from the Israelis. The Israelis despise themselves. So how do you expect them to relate to those who join them? They call the Arabs who help them 'stinkers,' not allies. Do you really think that they will not betray you as well?"

In a press release following the pogrom in Peki'in I commented as follows:
The events in Peki'in are the answer to those who ask why Israel needs the outskirts of Jerusalem. Those individuals who do not understand the justice of our sovereignty in Jerusalem have no answer to the Arab claims of ownership over the Land of Israel. It is only natural that the Druze community will ultimately join the side that believes in the justice of its cause.

And how did the Israelis react? First, they attempted to explain that the riots had nothing to do with nationalism and were only because of the antennas. That doesn't really explain why the Jewish homes in Peki'in were ransacked and burned, though. The government forced the Jews to leave Peki'in, proving to one and all that the Israelis have no roots, and are nothing more than shifting sands here.

The conclusion for the Druze is simple and obvious. It is best to join forces with those who plan to stay here. Because if after 2000 consecutive years of Jewish presence in Peki'in, Israel drives the Jews out, it is clear that there is no justification for the existence of the state of the Jews. Sooner or later, it will disappear. A Druze has to be an idiot to remain loyal to a state like that.

Urgent: A Jewish Revolution Needed

Since the advent of Oslo, Israel has slowly but surely degenerated into a dictatorship. This became blatantly apparent during the days of the destruction of Gush Katif and Northern Shomron. Sharon was able to destroy the settlements and expel their Jews because the Left has found the way to run the country through the votes of the Right. The Likud voters did not want the expulsion. The ideological Right and the religious voters certainly did not. But in the Israeli "democracy" that is exactly what they got. The Likud votes were enslaved to the Left, the ideological Right's votes were and remain insignificant and the religious? They made sure that there would be no expulsions on Shabbat.

When there is no alternative, there are no demonstrations. Manhigut Yehudit's job is to create the alternative. At this point, we are wielding our considerable political power to take the wind out of the Annapolis sails. As we reported in previous updates, Manhigut Yehudit is acting to convene the Likud Central Committee that will declare that no Likud government will ever honor agreements on the division of Jerusalem. We also support other important campaigns, such as the petition initiated by Likud MK Yisrael Katz in which the Knesset members assert that they will not vote in favor of any changes in the Jerusalem Law.

It is important to remember, though, that unless the current dictatorship is replaced, it will find the ways to deal with minor details such as the will of the majority, the law or ethical governance. Gush Katif proves that point.

So what should the average frustrated, distressed, agitated, faithful person do about Jerusalem? There are those who will return to the familiar solutions. As we have already seen this week, the established right wing leadership will hold demonstrations. They cost huge amounts of money and are focused on certain goals -- but winning is not one of them.

The true solution is a Jewish revolution -- authentic Jewish leadership that believes in the Jewish destiny of the Nation of Israel in the Land of Israel. How can we achieve the Jewish revolution that we so sorely need? The long term answer is to create the basis for Moshe Feiglin to win the leadership of the Likud by registering for membership in the party.

But there is much more than that. It is crucial that the Jewish Nation understands the source of the problem; Israel's loss of Jewish direction. The solution is not to topple Olmert and replace him with Bibi. The solution is not to build higher fences or to bring more soldiers or police into Jerusalem. The solution is not to bring hundreds of thousands of pro-Jerusalem demonstrators into the streets, either. UNLESS those hundreds of thousands take to the streets with a truly revolutionary demand; to replace Israel's current, faithless and treacherous leaders with authentic Jewish leadership.

More and more people within the Likud and without are beginning to understand how vital authentic Jewish leadership is to Jewish survival. More and more people are seriously considering Moshe Feiglin as the man for the job. It is urgent to get the word out and create the Jewish leadership revolution. To paraphrase Rabbi Tarfon in the Ethics of our Fathers, "The entire job is not on your shoulders. But you certainly must do your part!"

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One Way Street

By Moshe Feiglin

During the previous primaries, one of my donors -- an American Jew aware of Israel's political culture -- offered to donate ten thousand dollars to publicize a major ad inviting Netanyahu to a public debate. I very much wanted to debate Netanyahu. In countries with a true democratic culture, there is no such thing as elections without a debate. It doesn't matter what the polls say and which of the candidates seems like a shoe-in; the two sides are committed to putting their ideology to the public test. But despite my confidence in my ideology, I decided not to take my donor up on his generous offer. In Israel's current political climate -- particularly in the post-Sharon era -- an invitation to a debate is not perceived as an assertion of confidence in one's ideas. Just the opposite; it is perceived as weakness. Because if you are strong, why do you need to explain anything? If you attempt to explain yourself, it is a sure sign of weakness.

A violent political culture in which substance is meaningless has grown in Israel. Everything hinges on power, manipulation of public opinion and toeing the line of the State Attorney's office, the media and academia. Netanyahu knows where the power is concentrated and announces that when he wins the elections he will invite Labor party Ehud Barak to be his Defense Minister. What is he actually saying? He is saying that the Right has capitulated to the antagonistic political culture introduced to Israel by Ben Gurion; a culture that found its extreme expression in the legacies of Rabin and Sharon.

In Israel, the voter is completely irrelevant. The hapless right wing candidate surrenders in advance to the masters of the land and promises that despite the majority that supports him, he will leave the control in the hands of the land's leftist rulers. Sharon understood this, and brought the Labor party into his government for no apparent political reason. Laborite Barak, on the other hand, did all he could to divide Jerusalem even though he headed a minority government. The fact that he did not enjoy the support of a majority of the Israeli public for such far-reaching measures did not bother him, at all. And he was right. Barak had the full support of Israel's media-cultural-judicial elite, and that was all that he needed.

The unity government that Netanyahu is already promising today is actually a euphemism for a political cartel. When companies form a cartel to neutralize the customers and control the economic markets, they have broken the law. But when political parties unite to neutralize the voters and to control the ideological "market," they commit a much more serious crime: they effectively purge democracy of its significance. In Israeli 'newspeak,' this is called 'unity.'

Rabin's assassination was a reaction to this violent political culture. The murder occurred after a government elected on the basis of a clear policy not to negotiate with the PLO, made a complete turnabout. Rabin dismissed the wave of protest that broke out throughout the country with tried and true deligitimization methods; he called the protesters 'propellers,' 'Hamas,' and more. The assassination was the best gift Israel's Left could have dreamed of. It provided a tremendous power surge to the deligitimization process. The last remnants of Israel's political freedom rapidly turned to dust. Since Rabin's assassination, there is only one legitimate opinion in Israel. In Israeli 'democracy,' when you vote Left you get Left. But when you vote Right, you get double Left.

The freedom to think and to offer an alternative is not a simple democratic game. In a country in which the citizens feel that they are living on borrowed time and whose young people stand in a shameful line to merit foreign citizenship from the countries that slaughtered their grandparents (so that they will have a place to escape to when the Titanic sinks) there is only one legitimate path to solve our existential problems. The path that keeps exploding in our faces.

Jewish Legs or Leftist Crutches?

When Menachem Begin was elected as prime minister in 1977, Jews in Israel and the world over were filled with pride and hope. Those hopes, though, were summarily dashed. Whoever had anticipated a true revolution soon became painfully aware that political rule and actual control are not necessarily concurrent. Begin quickly appointed Laborite Ezer Weitzman to serve as defense minister and Moshe Dayan to serve as Foreign Minister. Those appointments proved that nationalism without Judaism cannot stand on its own two feet. In order to see itself as legitimate, it needs leftist crutches.

The leaders of the Right have a problem. On the one hand, they represent the majority in Israel. But on the other hand, both the religious and political rightist leaders do not believe in the relevance of Judaism on the national level. As a result, they are incapable of creating an authentic nationalist alternative to the Left. These leaders have no real intention of fighting the battle of their constituency. And why should they? They can be prime minister, or Yesha leader or head of the yeshivah/military academies without troubling themselves to fight.

Common political wisdom dictates that for the Likud to win the elections, it must win the "centrist" vote. But the truth is just the opposite. As soon as the Likud adopts more leftist positions, it loses. Netanyahu also explains his battle against Moshe Feiglin with the same logic. If the Likud will seem too rightist, it will lose votes. The facts, of course, don't seem to disturb Mr. Netanyahu. After his struggle against Moshe Feiglin, the Likud won just 12 Knesset seats. The Kadimah voters were unimpressed with Netanyahu's "centrist" rhetoric. But he did lose a tremendous amount of rightist votes to Lieberman -- who is now bolstering Olmert's Jerusalem-dividing government with the votes of his well-meaning but naïve constituency.

Last week, Dr. Asher Cohen of the Bar Ilan University published the findings of his 2006 democracy survey. The findings show that 22% of Israel's citizens define themselves as "extreme Right," 12% as "Right," and 15% as "moderate Right," or in other words, as Likud. When Netanyahu locked the doors to prevent Moshe Feiglin from congratulating him after the previous primaries, he was actually disenfranchising 34% of Israel's population. Moshe Feiglin and Manhigut Yehudit are the Likud bridgehead to a vast amount of voters who are disenchanted with the ruling nationalist party.

Netanyahu is a very rational man. Wouldn't he prefer to head a true right wing party with 49 Knesset seats instead of a shrunken centrist party with 12 or 15 Knesset seats?

The painful but true answer is that he would not. Netanyahu prefers to lean on the Left's crutches with a small and identity-less Likud behind him. He would rather leave the control in the hands of the Left than to head a strong Likud government that stands on its own two Jewish feet.

Why?

Netanyahu does not believe in the ability of the national camp to lead by itself. He certainly does not believe that Israel should be guided by Jewish values. But he does want to be prime minister. So he prefers to have the Likud just strong enough to get him into the prime minister's chair -- but absolutely not more than that. When Netanyahu fights against Feiglin, he does not do so to make the Likud seem more "centrist" and get more votes. He does it to signal to the Left that he is fighting their common enemy -- the person with the real potential to replace them.

Netanyahu does not fight Feiglin to save the Likud. Netanyahu fights Feiglin and the Likud -- to save Netanyahu.

Don't we have more important things to write about, with Jerusalem on the chopping block? Not really. To save Jerusalem and essentially -- to save the Nation of Israel, we have to understand which leaders actually intend to win the struggle -- and which leaders will channel all of our frustrated energy and concern to absolutely nowhere, as part of the cynical game orchestrated by the Left.

Support Manhigut Yehudit Today

Now is the time!

Your donation
can turn the State of the Jews
into the Jewish State.

Joining Manhigut Yehudit is much more than just a donation.

Now you're part of the team!

You don't need to be living in Israel

Support Manhigut Yehudit Today

OPERATION JERUSALEM SHIELD

Manhigut Yehudit, led by Moshe Feiglin, is spearheading a movement to STOP Olmert's plan to divide Jerusalem.

The main focus of "Operation Jerusalem Shield" is to pressure all Knesset members - starting with Likud - to commit IN WRITING that they will NEVER honor agreements signed by Olmert, or anyone else, regarding Jerusalem.

All polls show that Likud will lead the next government and Moshe Feiglin wants to make 100% certain that the entire world knows the Likud will declare all Jerusalem deals - NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY - as totally NULL and VOID!

Simply put: Jerusalem is NOT negotiable. Not now... not ever.

Manhigut Yehudit is asking for your involvement in "Operation Jerusalem Shield".
The money we raise in this campaign will be used in the following ways:

1) Lobbying efforts in the Knesset with Likud members and then with other Knesset parties as well
2) Massive PR campaign that will pressure as many Knesset members as possible to sign our pledge
3) Street demonstrations - all over Israel - focused at getting grass-roots suppport
4) International media campaign
5) Internet projects, in several languages, to educate the world about our program; video and audio included.

Click

here to support the

Jerusalem Shield campaign.

WILL IT HELP???

We started Manhigut Yehudit to accomplish one goal: To lead the State of Israel based on authentic Jewish values. When that happens, things like NEGOTIATING THE STATUS OF JERUSALEM will never happen! Real Jewish leaders will BUILD Jerusalem, settle Jews in every part of our G-d given land, educate all children in our traditions, financially help the Jewish poor and restore the IDF to its days of pride and strength! That was -- and still is -- the goal of Manhigut Yehudit.

But right now there is a major struggle that we cannot ignore. The struggle for Jerusalem is the struggle for the entire Land of Israel! WE MUST WIN THIS FIGHT and to do that, we need your support!

As stated above, Moshe Feiglin is leading the fight on all levels. From lobbying and pressuring Knesset members, to rallying the people in the streets, to mounting an international PR and educational campaign. The work load is enormous. We will gladly do our part and fight for Jerusalem with every fibre of our being, but we need you standing with us!

Jerusalem needs you. Please click

here to support the Jerusalem Shield Campaign.

Do You Follow Halloween Or Purim?

By Shlomo Walfish

Living in the five towns with lots of Jewish neighbors can be wonderful, but sometimes one can easily forget he is still in exile. Last Wednesday on my way to a wedding I was clearly reminded of this. I was driving to the Marina Del Rey, crossed the Whitestone bridge, got off the exit and headed down East Tremont Avenue. Suddenly, I saw a clown on the street. At first I first though there’s a party, then I saw more people with costumes. When I saw a witch I realized that it was Halloween. I wasn’t checking my Christian calendar that week. As I got closer to my destination I realized I am NOT in Woodmere anymore. The children on the sidewalks were in full costume with bags and orange plastic pumpkin buckets going door to door collecting their treats. It was a refreshing wake up call and reminded me where I really was.

I got to the wedding hall and when dinner came the Choson's brother got up to make a speech. He is a Persian Jew that lives in Great Neck. He started by apologizing to the Non Jewish waiters and staff who were in the room, he then said, tonight Americans celebrate Halloween and continued to explain that its origins are completely PAGAN. He then pointed out that Jews have Purim which has many similarities, we also dress up and eat treats... so what is the BIG difference? He then explained the main message the gentiles teach their children on Halloween is to go out and TAKE treats, but Jews on Purim teach their children to go out and GIVE gifts to others. This is the Jewish way, and the Choson and Kallah should give to each other.

This got me thinking about how Israeli religious leaders and political representatives relate to this concept. In particular I was thinking of the political parties that believe in the Torah. While the religious parties in Israel have provided well for their constituents in the past, like getting funding for Torah institutions, mikvahs, etc. what in fact is their basic modis operandi? If one is brutally honest one will realize that although the religious parties may have good intentions, their main function is and always was, TAKING money from the government and using it for what they deem important. While on the surface this may not seem so bad, one has to ask, does this follow the teaching of Purim or that of Halloween? Since Halloween is about TAKING the answer should be obvious. But one may argue they are supporting Torah. If one views this as the Jewish way, let's get a more complete view of how this way of thinking effects Israel.

The Shas Party voted for the Oslo accords in 1993 which gave 50,000 machine guns to terrorist who used them to kill Jews. Before the expulsion of 10,000 Jews from Gush Katif the Mafdal kept the Government alive even while the government was planning its destruction. After it was all “legal” and the damage was done, they decided to leave. Then the United Torah Judaism stepped in the save the day for the promise of a few million shekel. The religious parties have had ministers in education positions in the past and never instituted GIVING a Jewish education to all Jewish children in Israel. Now Israel has Prime Minister Olmert, President Shimon Peres, (thanks to Shas), and a government that continues to throw Jews out of their homes in places like Hebron, beat up Jews who disagree with and protest against their suicidal policies, and are planning to divide Jerusalem and give over Har Habaiyit the Holiest JEWISH place on earth to Terrorists. And once again for money, Shas and the Yisrael Beitenu party will continue to support this government.

The Torah tells us in Mishpatim 23:8 not to TAKE bribes “Shochad Yaaver Pikchim V’yisalef Divrei Tzadikim” Bribes blind the eyes of the wise and corrupt the words of the righteous. R. Yaakov Kaminetzky used to say, and that’s talking about real Tzadikim, that even the Torah considers Tzadikim. Can one expect religious parties and leaders to see clearly after taking bribes when the Torah clearly says it CAN NOT be done?

Is there ANY political movement that follows the message of Purim, the lesson of GIVING? The answer is YES! That group is called Manhigut Yehudit. They did not join the Likud to get jobs, money, power, or other treats. They are there to GIVE. To give Jewish direction and leadership to Israel. To give Jewish education to every Jewish child in Israel, to reform the judicial system so it represents Jewish values, to promote Jewish labor for an effective creative and moral economy, to show how a truly JEWISH army fights to protect Jewish citizens, to influence the media that it should reflect Jewish values and morals, to institute a massive Aliyah program so every Jew in the world can come and feel at home! To GIVE GIVE and GIVE some more!

You can learn about, support, and GIVE to Manhigut Yehudit which follows the lessons of Purim, or you can continue to watch other parties and political leaders follow the lessons of Halloween.