T. Belman. This is what I have been advocating from day one.
Dr. Aaron Lerner 25 September, 2019Dear Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu,
As the leader of the national camp, you have an obligation to make a good faith effort to try to form a ruling coalition of the national camp. And such a coalition could be formed if Yisrael Beiteinu, that is part of the national camp, joins the coalition.
Yes. There’s bad blood between you and Liberman. Yes. There’s a narrative that Liberman’s motives begin and end with making sure you aren’t prime minister.
But that’s not the explanation Liberman has given for his actions.
He’s cited religion-state issues. And the truth is that since the elections the red lines that he’s mentioned on religion-state issues are something that a round table of representatives of Yisrael Beiteinu and the religious parties could resolve.
To be clear: I’m not suggesting a round table just so that we can document who is responsible for the failure of the effort – though there would be a place for that for the sake of history and out of respect for your constituents. I have every reason to believe that such a move would succeed.
You cited security challenges and the so-called opportunity of the “deal of the century” to justify a unity government rather than a national camp coalition government.
The Nation can stand together without representatives of Blue White in the cabinet.
What the Nation needs is an indication that the ruling coalition recognizes the severity of the situation and acts accordingly.
Which brings us back to the round table of representatives of Yisrael Beiteinu and the religious parties.
I cannot think of a stronger message that the ruling coalition recognizes the severity of the situation than an historic breakthrough on religion-state issues for a House United rather than a House Divided.
Suffice it to say that this message would be reinforced by the contours of the security emergency budget that will apparently be required.
Again – a tangible breakthrough in state-religion issues which facilitates Yisrael Beiteinu joining the ruling coalition followed by passage of a security emergency budget would create an environment in which almost all Israelis, regardless of who they voted for, would feel a part of.
Suffice it to say that in the event that we are compelled to engaged in a major military campaign that the leadership of Blue White, sitting in theopposition, can be counted on to put the nation ahead of petty politics for the duration.
This is not the time for time consuming and potentially disastrous political chess playing.
Again. The national camp has enough seats to form a ruling coalition.
It is most likely just a round table away.
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IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis
@ Edgar G.: Edgar, Judaism has certainly evolved through the centuries. But not in entirely desirable ways. The Conservative, Reform and Reconstructionist movements have essentially denied that there are any divinely ordained laws, and urged their members to observe only those Torah precepts that are consistent with consistent liberal thinking. This creates such a weak committment to Judaism that most members of these groups give up Judaism altogether. Those who live in predominently Christian countries usually convert to Christianity, in countries where that is the dominant religion, in order to be fully integrated into their communities. That after all is in line with the “Universalist” attitudes of these Jewish sects.
On the other hand, the Ultra-Orthodox or Haridim err in many ways as well. They have invented all sorts of minute ritual laws that it is not practical for most Jews to observe. They keep adopting new “laws” that emphasize the inferior status of women (such as making them sit at the back of buses), thus alienating most Jewish women, for whom equality with men is a big thing. Worst of all, they segregate themselves from other Jews by both their residential practices and their wearing of special uniforms different from other Jews. The haredi leaders insisting on an exemption from military service for nearly all haredim, and their refusal to obverve national days of observance declared by the Knesset, such as Yom Hazicharon and Independence Day, alienates the majority of Israeli Jews. And this behavior makes great talking points and recruiting opportunities for the Left, who are an extremely dangerous fifth column among us.
In my opinion, the religious Zionists and most Modern Orthodox Jews (in the diaspora) come the closest to observing an authentic, viable Judaism for our time.
@ Adam Dalgliesh:
There have been similar other polls in the past.
The majority of Israelis do NOT want coercive religion of the Rabbinate and are sick of the UTJ & Shas. The elections also reflected this.
@ Bear Klein: This poll, conducted by an organization with an extremely partisan, anti-Orthodox agenda, is totally unreliable. The pollsters have an obvious conflict of interest. Shame on Arutz Sheva for accepting these partisan “findings” at face value. I notice that polls almost always report what the people commissioning or conducting the polls want them to. That is why they are so consistently different from actual election results. Obviously, they are either completely fake, or conducted in a biased way (as, contacting voters just before Shabbes, to ensure that not too many Orthodox Jews would answer the phone, or calling Yeshivas where most bochers don’t have private phones).
The election was about two things mainly.
A referendum on Bibi first if a majority wanted him again as Prime Minister the answer was no.
Do a majority of the people want to continue with the coercive religious control of a minority who in mass do share the burden of the military draft. The answer was no. The regular people realize that if a growing share of the population finds a way around the draft that means the rest have to serve more. To compound this problem much of this population live off of public funds.
Israelis if they want a civil marriage need to travel to Cyrus or elsewhere to obtain it. Liberman honed in all the above plus shabbat restrictions that were being imposed on secular neighborhoods such closing of grocery stores and lack of public transportation to increase his parties seats in the Knesset.
The Blue & White have as part of their platform very similar Haredi draft positions and other positions that reduce the coercive power of the Rabbinate.
The election plus polls reflected that the majority of Israelis no longer accept the UTJ & Shas ruling over them because of political deals to get them into coalition. Even 51% of the Likud voters want this changed. Some Likud voters switched to Liberman and some to Blue &White.
So unless the UTJ & Shas are willing to agree to tthe demands of the majority of the voters which are expressed in Libermans’
demands there will not be a right wing coalition.
@ Edgar G.: Edgar, I accept your correction that the phrase “power and privileges” that I used is unfair when applied to most haredim. Most are poor people, not members of a priveleged, powerful elite. I did not mean to mislead, although I may have done so inadvertently. Most haredim are not powerful and privileged. It is also true that nearly all haredim are genuinely committed to making traditional Judaism a part of the life of the Jewish people in Eretz Israel, and that this is a legitimate and very important goal. It is also true that there is a gradual increase taking place in the number of haredim joining the work force and serving in the IDF.
But I think it is also fair to say that the haredi leadership (not the great majority of yeshiva bokrim) do have somepower over a limited number of matters, such as conversion, marriage and divorce, and even burial, and that they have not not used this power wisely and in the interest of the Jewish people and authentic traditional Judaism. Many although not all haredi leaders have discouraged young and impoverished haredim from joining the work force and the IDF. That is wrong.
ADAM- I just recalled (perhaps from reading Solomon Zeitlin,) another series of major changes of practice which I think too interesting to keep to myself and to show how Judaism evolved constantly.. There was a period, when after many years, the population grew far too large and unwieldy for every male Jew to obey the din to go up to the Temple three times a year as laid down in Devarim. And to bring their sacrifices with them . In no particular order, the personal sacrifices were shelved in favour of purchasing them at the Mount itself as in Herodian times. For poor people a bird was “permissible”…. Another change… Instead of each person going to the Mount, one was chosen from a village, and the sacrifice he brought was contributed to by everyone, who then had a vicarious involvement. Another change, Instead of every major matter being decided by the Sanhedrin, they established smaller bodies in the various centres consisting of 23 Sages, who acted as a Sanhedrin.. And etc.
What about the kipa, and head coverings…that was never a Torah Law…as far as I know… If there were to still be a Sanhedrin, they would be arguing about what size it should be and the material, and giving decisions….. from Bennett’s midget circle (does he use glue?) to the large, (perhaps Istanbul Sultan-inspired) turban-shaped headgear of, say….. Rabbi Ovadia Josef…. .Look at the Shtreimls, the Kolpiks, and other fantastic headgear worn by a variety of Chassidim… Oy Veh.
@ Adam Dalgliesh:
Adam, when you talk about their “power and privileges” you must mean the power to have under-developed Haredim with atrocious eyesight, and many congenital genetic defects, causing short life-spans, daven, and study, as well as living in abject poverty.
Although I mention these things, I agree with what you said. I also said the same about Lieberman weeks ago. and regardless of his “promises” he’ll do what pays him best.
To regulate and decide on “Who is a Jew”…. and on the sanctity of Jewish marriage is not power, it’s a glaringly obvious duty. Who better qualified than the Rabonim, …??It’s because of their suffering for many centuries , that you and I are here today arguing about it..The alternative is the gradual extinction by “assimilation and lack of Jewish education,, of the Jewish Nation”. (just saw the accidental alliteration).
The Haredim ARE joining the work force in ever increasing amounts, they re showing up for the IDF in numbers greater that are required, so what do you want from them more. It’s a long, long process to re-assure them that their precious goals are not threatened. It’s not all about money. As I’ve said before, outside pressures cause greater adherence to prayer and the hope of Divine rescue.. They push back.
They are not to be envied.
You should well know that present day devout Jewish observance, no matter by whom, in several ways has little or no resemblance to the Judaism which was observed, say before and around the time of Ezra and/or Nehemiah. Pressure from the surrounding nations caused changes in observance and some were omitted and others greatly changed, I believe, due to greater value that the Sages put on Jewish life, I believe for fear that the whole People would be destroyed. .
Recall how the Goyim saw that Jews would not fight on Shabat, so made sure to attack them on that day. That the Sages, decreed that even on Shabat, Jews could fight etc. Kings of both Judah and Israel had their own rules which were not like those even in the times of the Chashmonim, where again, there were great changes. There are other examples, because other than keeping to certain strict principles, the Jewish religion has been evolving and changing,
Even today, one revered Rabbi will say “yes it can be done”, and another will say “maybe but only under certain conditions”, a third will say flatly “NO. it can’t”. Isn’t that how the Sanhedrin used to operate, with the .”Zugot” (Hillel and Shammai-Sh’maiya and Abtalion etc. )…
(a doubles pair in tennis or table-tennis is called a “zugot”)…
As Lerner has suggested the present impasse can be solved with good will.
I suggest that the Haredim, and Lieberman’s gangsters are secluded….. and decide between themselves, what to agree or not agree on.
Totally unrealistic. Leiberman is obviously intent on playing the role of spoiler. The religious can’t yield to his demands because it would mean the end of all their power and privileges, the elimination of Orthodox Judaism as an Israel’s established religion, the complete secularization of Israel’s society. They have fought against this since even before the state was founded. Lieberman is obviously enjoying his spoiler’s role–just look at his glowing face and dancing eyes–and has no desire to compromise with anyone. Also, he has built his poer base since April-May on appealing to radical secularists. He would lose his constituency and power base if he backs down. Bibi certainly will talk to both Leiberman and the religious leaders and will ask them to talk to each other and reach a compromise. But neither can afford to back down.
Lieberman has committed himself to supporting Gantz for Prime Minister. He even entered into a vote-sharing agreement with Blue-White. He can’t now rat on Blue-White the way he ratted on Likud in May. A double turncoat will encounter complete distrust from both sides.
I am struck by the utter lack of contact with reality by all the commentators . They are just not facing up to the reality that there will be leftwing appeasement government with PLO and Hamas representatives inside the government.
Unless patriotic Israelis finally begin begin to acquire a little political smarts, and break absolutely with the appeasement collaborationist camp, of which Gantz is now either the leader or the figurehead (he is so tight lipped its hard to tell which), Israel is doomed. My heart weeps for my country and my people. They are so stupid. Going like sheep to the gas ovens just as they did in the second world war, unable to grasp that their enemies are really bad folks, and that some of their own leaders are traitors.