Weekly Update 18 Tevet, 5768 (Dec. 27) Issue: 6813

This article is excerpted from Moshe Feiglin's book, "The War of Dreams." It was written after the Likud Central Committee voted unanimously against Ariel Sharon's proposal to establish a Palestinian state.

2 Sivan, 5762
May 13, 2002

Last night's Likud Central Committee vote against a Palestinian state was not a victory for Netanyahu, and obviously not for Sharon. In the most fundamental way -- they both lost. The real winner was the Jewish majority. The seeds that Manhigut Yehudit began to plant in the consciousness of the belief-based public six years ago have now developed into tender saplings.

Looking at the entire picture with a deeper and more comprehensive eye, it is clear that Netanyahu's victory yesterday was no more than a triumph for his ego. Netanyahu had no choice but to drag his feet into the proceedings that Manhigut Yehudit and Land of Israel faithful in the Likud had initiated. He could not have contradicted the rightist line that he had adopted in hundreds of recent media interviews.

The winner yesterday was the Nation of Israel, that reasserted its loyalty to its Land and values and proved that it has the tools and will to fight for what its principles. Neither Netanyahu nor Sharon is synchronized with the fundamental goals of the Nation of Israel. Consequently, the process of Israel's return to itself will necessarily bring about their downfall.

The Likud is the microcosm of the Nation of Israel. It is the home of the traditional Israeli who does not deny his identity and who loves his homeland. It is the home of the middle class, which caries the country's social and economic yoke on its shoulders. It is the home of Jews of all origins, both observant and non-observant, and everybody else in between. The Likud is the home of the Nation of Israel.

Last night's victory expresses itself on two planes:

First and most immediate is the tactical achievement: blocking the Palestinian state. Clearly, when a battle is carried out on the proper arena, it is possible to block processes that seem irreversible -- and to return the Palestinian state genie back to the bottle. After the Central Committee vote, we see that the proper ideological analysis -- the understanding of the need for Jewish leadership for Israel -- necessarily paves the way for the National Camp to lead the State. That is what happened when Manhigut Yehudit -- although certainly lacking political experience -- nevertheless arrived at the proper tactical solution.

But the victory of the Nation of Israel is much deeper than just the tactical problem that was created for Ariel Sharon yesterday as he attempts to establish a Palestinian state. For the first time since Camp David, the ideological battlefield -- the battlefield on which the future of the Nation of Israel and the Land of Israel is being fought -- moved from the sidelines to center stage. Two or three weeks ago, it seemed that the Palestinian state was a done deal. Voices opposing it were heard, if at all, only from Israel's rightist and religious margins. Nobody paid any attention to them and they simply melted away. Now it has become clear that not only has the struggle not melted away, but it has broken out with tremendous energy. Where? In the very center of the political map -- in the very heart of Israel's ruling party.

That is much more than a tactical victory. It is a quiet revolution -- a strategic revolution.

Now it is clear to all that Manhigut Yehudit's basic assumptions are correct. Yesterday, President Bush could not have cared less about the leader of "The National Union," the former Minister of Tourism, the leader of Moledet or the leader of the NRP. The person who interested President Bush last night was Likud Central Committee member Uzi Cohen from Ra'anana. He interested Bush for one simple reason: As opposed to the others, he is playing on the true arena -- the arena of national leadership. Consequently, the actions he takes on the arena are relevant to reality.

And now let us make a small calculation. If we managed to influence events and push our own agenda inside the Likud now, just think what we will be able to do when hundreds of Likud Central Committee members will be Manhigut people. Just think what we will be able to accomplish when many of Manhigut's people will be Likud MKs and -- with G-d's help -- when Manhigut Yehudit's candidate will head the National Camp's ruling party.