Netanyahu seizes semi-permanent power in Likud
Earlier in the week, I reported on an amendment to the Likud constitution that would allow Prime Minister Netanyahu to entrench himself in power within the party. The amendment would allow the party's Central Committee to delay holding elections for up to three years after a general election. When is the last time this country went three years without a general election? 1992-96 if I am not mistaken. There hasn't been a Likud Central Committee election since 2002.The amendment needed two thirds of the voting Likud Central Committee members to pass. In retrospect, I suppose it is not surprising that these people voted to keep themselves in power. The amendment garnered 77% of the vote. Nevertheless, Moshe Feiglin, who spearheaded the drive to oppose the amendment (and whose supporters were its principal target) is not discouraged.
The official results of the voting today indicate that 77% of the Likud Central Committee voters went with Bibi, preferring to defer Likud elections - probably indefinitely. There were many obvious problems and irregularities with today's voting, but it will not help us to turn to the courts or to be "sore losers." And this dark cloud definitely has a silver lining.Read the whole thing. It's hard not to get the sense that Thursday's vote postponed the inevitable. Still, there is a long struggle ahead.
After a long and hectic week, we can summarize that Moshe Feiglin and Manhigut Yehudit took a giant leap forward toward leadership of Israel. Moshe Feiglin was in the media constantly. Even those journalists who have traditionally been openly hostile to Moshe related to him with seriousness and respect. There is no doubt that Moshe has positioned himself as an alternative leader for Israel.
There was only one major force this week that opposed Bibi and his planned disengagement from Jerusalem: Moshe Feiglin. He was articulate, determined and unequivocal as he warned of Bibi's plans - very much the next leader in the making.
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:53 PM
2 Comments:
Carl - Moshe Feiglin unlike the lunatics in National Union, is a serious man who understands there is one player in town - the Likud. Those who advocate abandoning the Likud for National Union, would be dooming the Religious Zionist sector of Israeli society to complete irrelevance for decades. Do Ketzaleh and Ben Ari have any influence on government policy? Check. Are their interests represented before the government? Check. Do their views get heard by people that really matter check? A fringe party in the opposition has no real clout. Yes, Feiglin lost a battle this week. But real change takes a lot of struggle and hard work and changing the Likud isn't going to happen over night. It took decades of hard work to establish the State Of Israel. Feiglin has an idea that is attractive and powerful. Its time will come. This week is but a prelude to that day and like the conservative movement did in the United States in the wake of the landslide Democratic win in 1964, Manhigut Yehudit has to shake off the loss and get right back to work. In short, the Likud today is the future of Israel.
Netanyahu is becoming a real Hugo Chavez - with the difference that he works for the USA vs. against them.
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