Last week, Prime Minister Netanyahu appointed a member of the Likud Central Committee to the position of Attorney General. His choice, apparently, was not well-qualified for the position, and Members of Knesset from all parties complained loudly about the appointment. The candidate withdrew his acceptance of the appointment. The chaos surrounding the appointment and resignation of Roni Bar-On proved yet again that Netanyahu is stricken with the same disease as many other LIkud leaders. Weakness.
When Yitzchak Rabin was Prime Minister of Israel, he had one quality which Israel needs, and which Netanyahu lacks. He was strong, sure of his convictions, and prepared to deal with opposition, whether from within Israel or from outside sources. Rabin's problem was that his ideas were anathema to the fulfillment of the Zionist program. But he lacked no courage.
Just after Netanyahu took office in Israel, he made a trip to the United States, where he laid down his law to the American government. He emphatically stated that Israeli would not give in to Arab demands on Jerusalem, and that he would continue and expand settlements in Judea and Samaria. He said he would reform Israel's economy, and that he would be a leader for Israel at a time when Israel needs strong leadership. He drew loud applause in Congress and in the halls of the American Jewish Establishment.
But after he left Washington and New York, that Netanyahu disappeared. The strong and sure Netanyahu, who had the courage to stand up to American leaders, was replaced by Netanyahu the Likudnik. He has become infested with the disease which wracks the LIkud from top to bottom. That disease is cowardice and apathy.
In the summer of 1995, I was priviledged (or so I then thought) to meet with several of the leaders of the Likud. I sat in hour-long meetings with Yitzchak Shamir, Uzi Landau, Ehud Olmert, and the leader of World Betar. This was at a time when many events were taking place at once, in a particularly volatile political climate, even for Israel.
First, Rabin gave carte blanche permission to Olmert to take whatever measures necessary to close Orient House. Two days later, when I met with him, he told me and the group I was with, that it would be done within two days. Orient House is still open nearly two years later, and Olmert has not done a thing to attempt to close it down. He is afraid of confrontation, either with the Israeli government, or with the Arabs, on the issue.
Next, Zo Artzeinu staged demonstrations closing down 58 major highway interchanges across the country. The message was powerful, and the government was scared. Along came Benny Begin, Binyamin Netanyahu, Uzi Landau, and Yitzchak Shamir, among others, and accused Zo Artzeinu of breaking the law in disrupting the normal flow of Israeli life, and removing a big base of support from Zo Artzeinu.
That day, I met with Shamir, as part of a group representing Betar of Canada. He told me that Israel had lost its pioneering spirit, and that Betar was one of the last vestiges of that spirit left in Israel. I asked why Betar was not on the streets like Zo Artzeinu was, and he told me that Betar preferred to do things more quietly. He then said that Zo Artzeinu had gone too far.
When I met with the leader of World Betar he also told me that Betar preferred to deal with issues without opposing an Israeli government.
I compare these attitudes with those of Menachem Begin in the 1940's and 1950's. When the Israeli leadership of that time sold out Jewish interests to their enemies, Begin and the Irgun, graduates of Betar all, responded by opposing the Jewish leadership. It was through the actions of the Irgun alone that Israel was ever founded, and it is only through that spirit that Israel will remain.
But now, Begin's heirs have adopted the cowardice and weakness of those "leaders" Begin defeated. It is now preferable for Israel's "leaders" to give in to Arab demands, even where the very basis of Jewish heritage is concerned. Hevron today will be Jerusalem tomorrow, and when that tomorrow happens, the rest of Israel will simply disappear.
But this cowardice is not restricted to the Likud. What is even more disappointing is the response from some of the National Religious camp. MK Chanan Porat is one of the very last heroes of Israel in the Knesset. He has now called on his party (NRP) to resign from the government, since it appears that this government is as prepared as the last one to give up Jewish territory to Arab murderers. Porat is right. Jewish pride demands that this government be toppled and replaced with one that is proud to represent four thousand years of Jewish history and hopefully a long and distinguished Jewish future in Israel.
But NRP leader Zevulun Hammer, who also happens to be a minister, appears to be more interested in his job than in the Jewish future in Israel. He suggested that NRP would do better to stay in the government and fight from the inside to limit any further concessions. I have one question for Hammer. If NRP could not limit the government from concessions in Hevron, the resting place of Jewish history, then what does he hope to accomplish in other areas not as close to the Jewish heart? The only concession more important that Hevron is Jerusalem, and even that is not all that much more important. If the NRP has failed to prevent Hevron's abandonment, what makes him think they can do any better in Jerusalem.
If the NRP resigns from this government over an agreement on Hevron, they will have my full and undiminished support in the next elections. If they do not, I might just support Ehud Barak. At least he is a strong leader.
Breathes there not a man in Zion who can cure Israel of its disease-ridden political leadership? Beats there not a heart in Zion that yearns for Jewish courage and the reinstatement of Jewish pride in its heritage and strength in its defense? Should such exist, now is the time to emerge and lead the nation from the abyss of cowardice to the promised land of strength and courage. If such does not exist, we will all be the worse for it.
Copyright 1997. Reproduction in electronic or print format by permission only.
