Media Releases – April 1999
April 1999
April 14, 1999 The National Unity Party
April 18, 1999 Very Important Messages
April 27, 1999 Believe
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Jerusalem, April 14, 1999
The National Unity Party
To all our supporters,
The following is a very important message. The National Unity Party is the ONLY
party running in the upcoming Israeli elections who have pledged NOT to give away one
more inch of our country. Please attend the meeting and bring your friends.
Ruth and Nadia Matar
Women In Green
HAICHUD HALEUMI/ THE NATIONAL UNITY PARTY
MOLEDET — HERUT — TEKUMAH
Do you want to know the whys and wherefores of the upcoming fateful elections?
Our beloved country is in grave danger! What can we do about it?
Come to the Renaissance Hotel in Jerusalem
Thursday, April 22, 1999 at 7:30 pm
And hear (in English):
MK Benny Begin, MK Rechavam (“Gandhi”) Ze’evi, MK Chanan Porat, MK Rav Benny Elon,
former MK Elyakim Ha’etzni, and Nadia and Ruth Matar.
HaIchud HaLeumi
Moledet — Herut — Tekumah
(The National Unity Movement)
POB 7852
Jerusalem 91078
Tel: 02-624-9885
Inernet: www.haichud-haleumi.org.il
Free Admission Bring Your Friends
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Jerusalem, April 18, 1999
Very Important Messages
Dear Supporters of Eretz Yisrael,
The following are important messages. Please read carefully.
Ruth and Nadia Matar
PLEASE POST & DISTRIBUTE
CHAI L’ISRAEL — ROUND TRIP AIRFARE TO ISRAEL FOR $180
Come to Israel for Shavuot (Aliya L’regel), visit the historical sites
of Jerusalem and the heartland. Pray at the Kotel, Kever Rachel and
the Maarat Hamachpela. Exercise your civic duty as an Israeli citizen
to vote in the May 17 election to help keep Israel Jewish and secure.
Chartered Flights will depart on Sunday, May 16 & return on Tuesday,
May 18 or Sunday, May 23 (after Shavuot). $180 includes round-trip
airfare and all taxes.
Limited space is available & ONLY ELIGIBLE ISRAELI VOTERS can
participate in this program.
For reservations, contact 1-877-VOTE-999
(877)-868-3999. Address: 4813 13th Ave. (upstairs), Brooklyn, NY. Fax:
718-686-6214.
P.S. — Arafat would prefer you don’t come home to Israel. Your VOTE
can make the difference.
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HAICHUD HALEUMI – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Aaron Lerner Date: 12 March, 1999
IMRA note: The following series of questions and answers do not represent
the official position of Haichud Haleumi – the joint list of Moledet, Herut
and Tekuma – but rather the author’s impressions based on conversations and
presentations made by various members of the group.
Q: Why did you bring down the government?
A: To stop the implementation of Wye.
Q: What is so bad about Wye?
A: The withdrawals turn the autonomy from isolated islands into a viable
interconnected land mass that controls vital highlands and isolates
settlements.
Q: Didn’t defense people say the withdrawals did not hurt security?
A: As then Defense Minister Mordechai openly stated, the withdrawals would
be dangerous if negotiations with the Palestinians broke down.
Q: But wasn’t Wye intentionally designed to self destruct?
A: Hardly. Palestinian obligations in Wye are ambiguous and rely on the US
as arbiter of compliance.
Q: So what was gained by bringing the government down?
A: The 5 year interim period of Oslo ends and Arafat does not have the
contiguous territory that would readily support the unilateral declaration
of an independent Palestinian state. Israel still controls the high ground.
Q: But won’t the withdrawals resume after the elections anyway?
A: It depends on the outcome of the elections. The next government, citing
the end of the 5 year interim period could readily justify focusing on final
status talks.
Q: But Netanyahu was building settlements!
A: The losses from the planned withdrawals far outweighed the gains in
construction. Please note that considerable activity only took place AFTER
the coalition began to unravel.
Q: What will be the Haichud Haleumi’s strength if Netanyahu is elected?
A: With a large number of mandates it would play a pivotal role in forming a
right wing based government and as anchor on critical policy.
Q: Won’t Netanyahu prefer a national unity government?
A: No. Netanyahu’s right wing rhetoric accurately reflects his desires.
His actions conflict with that rhetoric only when he believes he needs to
act otherwise to remain in power. Netanyahu’s first choice is a stable
right wing based government.
Q: Are you claiming Netanyahu will do anything to keep his seat?
A: Yes, but not because of lust for power – Netanyahu is convinced he can do
the best job negotiating for Israel and thus will do whatever he feels
necessary to keep the position.
Q: And if Barak is elected?
A: Haichud Haleumi would serve as the backbone of the opposition both in the
Knesset and outside.
Q: If a leftist government is elected wouldn’t it have been better not to
bring down the Netanyahu government?
A: The action was a calculated risk. The alternative was continued
withdrawals with elections in 2000 instead of 1999.
Q: What good will the Haichud Haleumi be if there is a national unity
government?
A: By providing a solid benchmark for the right, the Haichud Haleumi would
influence the right wing of the coalition.
Q: In any case you won’t be in the government.
A: It all depends on how many seats the Haichud Haleumi gets. The more it
gets the greater the likelihood of a right wing based coalition.
Q: Why did you criticize Netanyahu before the elections.
A: Because his actions warranted criticism.
Q: Don’t Netanyahu’s recent declarations not to remove settlements and
opposition to a Palestinian state make Haichud Haleumi irrelevant?
A: No. Netanyahu will only honor these declarations if backed by a large
stable right wing base government.
Q: So why not vote Likud?
A: As Netanyahu’s ‘rubber stamp’, the Likud can be included in any
conceivable coalition/policy combination. In contrast, a large Ichud Leumi
can effectively set the parameters of the coalition/policy that Netanyahu
can form.
Q: There already is a Palestinian state. Shouldn’t the focus be on
minimizing the damage?
A: The PA’s islands today are a far cry from a viable independent state.
Q: Do you propose to retake the cities?
A: Not unless the security situation requires it in the future. According
to the platform, ‘The faction will aim for the establishment of Jewish
sovereignty over every part of the Land of Israel under our control.’
Q: Can you join a government that doesn’t reject Oslo/Hebron/Wye?
A: The platform does not preclude this. Keep in mind that the government
will form AFTER the interim agreement expires and that, in any case,
requiring full Palestinian compliance (a repeat of the 1996 government
guidelines) effectively freezes the withdrawals.
Q: What is the Haichud Haleumi’s position on the future?
A: As a coalition, the Haichud Haleumi’s platform embraces neither ‘transfer
‘ or ‘autonomy’. From a practical standpoint the Haichud Haleumi would
accept continued autonomy.
Q: But what about Moledet’s ‘transfer’?
A: ‘Transfer’ is ‘transfer by choice’ to be achieved by economic pressure.
The key policy tools for economic pressure (work permits, import/trade
policy, tax cooperation) are controlled by the prime minister and the
relevant ministers rather than the entire cabinet. Unless a Moledet minister
sits in one of these positions (Labor, Treasury, etc.) they could not, in
any case, effectively promote their policy.
Q: But the Palestinians won’t accept autonomy.
A: By the same token, they also won’t accept any arrangement that is
acceptable to Labor, Likud or the Central Party.
Q: But didn’t Arafat accept Beilin-Mazen?
A: He denies it. Even if he did, Beilin-Mazen leaves open such critical
issues as the final status of Jerusalem and the right of return of 1948
refugees.
Q: But can Israel follow a policy America opposes?
A: The U.S. Congress – the body responsible for setting the budget,
approving arms sales and treaties, etc. solidly supports Netanyahu’s
rhetoric.
Q: What about Rabbi Druckman?
A: It would be fantastic if he took an active role in the next Knesset. As
number two on the NRP Haichud Haleumi Rabbi Druckman doesn’t need your vote
to get his seat. Your vote goes towards electing the rest of the NRP list –
including many who have denounced anyone to their right as ‘extremists’.
Q: The NRP is the ‘smart right’
A: The NRP’s ‘stay inside at any price’ policy is what lead Netanyahu to
think he could go to Wye in the first place. A large Haichud Haleumi would
prevent such actions in the future.
Q: Haichud Haleumi is a one issue party.
A: No. The Haichud Haleumi’s platform covers the entire spectrum of issues
and its MK’s have excellent records across the board.
Q: Then why doesn’t the Haichud Haleumi emphasize the rest of the issues?
A: The focus of the elections is the Arab-Israeli issue. While other issues
will be addressed, an effective campaign must focus most of its resources on
presenting its position on the Arab-Israeli issue.
Q: What about minority rights inside Israel?
A: The Platform states ‘Israel is a Jewish and democratic state. As such
it will protect equal rights for all its citizens and residents.’
Q: What is the position of Haichud Haleumi on secular-religious issues?
A: The Platform states ‘The faction will maintain the status quo on matters
of religion and state that are meant to insure the Jewish character of the
State. The addition of legislation in these matters will not be done except
with broad national agreement.’
Q: Doesn’t a vote for a mixed secular-religious party jeopardize support
for institutions that a vote for the NRP would insure?
A: The Platform states ‘The faction will act to strengthen Haichud
Haleumi-torah institutions and organizations.’ The MKs who formed the
Haichud Haleumi were key players in the budget battles in the last Knesset.
Q: Haven’t you learned from 1992?
A: That’s why there is only one Haichud Haleumi!
Q: Will you follow rabbis?
A: Neither the Haichud Haleumi or the NRP is committed to follow the voting
recommendations of a rabbinical authority.
Q: Why didn’t Porat and Handel return their seats to the NRP?
A: The constituency that elected them voted for them to promote the policies
that they continue to embrace. Returning their mandates to a reformulated
NRP would essentially be cheating their constituents.
Q: If Porat and Handel had placed at the top of the NRP list they would
have stayed.
A: But then it would have been a different NRP. The NRP Central Committee
erred when it opted to ignore the desires of its constituency. The NRP
itself might have joined the Haichud Haleumi!
Q: Why not vote ‘Gimel’ (Agudat Yisrael). Aren’t they right wing too?
A: The Agudat Yisrael voting record is spotty. While they themselves
launched no confidence votes against the Rabin administration relating to
religious matters (e.g. against Shulamit Aloni), they frequently abstained,
on the orders of the Council of Sages, from no confidence votes based on
Oslo.
Q: Why the difference?
A: The Council of Sages places heavy emphasis on avoiding short term
‘pikuach nefesh’ (life threatening situations) at the expense of long term
threats. For example, they rule that travel in the West Bank or living in
the West Bank be avoided even though the absence of a Jewish presence there
would ultimately be more dangerous.
Q: How can this impact future votes?
A: By placing its emphasis on the short term, there is a strong likelihood
that the Council of Sages would instruct the Agudat Yisrael MK’s to support
dangerous agreements on the grounds that, at least in the extreme short run,
accepting the agreement avoids conflict.
Q: But hasn’t Minister Porush earned my vote by building settlements?
A: No more than the bank teller deserves your thanks for cashing your
check. The funds allocated by the Ministry of Housing to the settlements
are the result of the hard work of MKs who now formed Haichud Haleumi.
Minister Porush’s office simply administered the funds.
Q: Why can’t you just give peace a chance?
A: The ‘Oslo experiment’ was an incredibly expensive attempt at doing just
that and it failed miserably. The chance was taken.
Q: But isn’t it better to have a shaky peace than certain conflict?
A: As the MERETZ Party platform wisely noted, Israel’s security is not based
on treaties or foreign guarantees but rather its own ability to defend
itself. A so-called ‘peace’ that compromises Israel’s ability to defend
itself is a recipe for future conflict.
Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director
IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-9-7411645
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
pager 03-6750750 subscriber 4811
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DOCUMENT: TEXT OF RABBIS ENDORSING HAICHUD HALEUMI
Aaron Lerner Date: 12 March, 1999
The following is IMRA’s translation of an endorsement of Haichud Hleumi –
the joint list of Moledet, Herut and Tekuma (www.haichud-haleumi.org.il):
We heard and were gladdened by the unification of the leaders of the public
loyal to
Jewish values and dedicated to the commandment of settling the land and
saving its holy earth in every place. In Judea, Samaria, Gaza and the
Golan. Who put at the forefront of their concerns the security of the
nation of Israel and its prospering in our Holy Land. These honorable
people have proved themselves in their public activities in and outside of
the Knesset .
And now also it is shown that the value of unity between brothers is dear to
them and out of their love of what is holy they overcame differences of
opinion, and established a united list of loyalists to the people of Israel
and its land, that will run in the Knesset elections to save our Holy Land
and strengthen its Jewish character.
We who are faithful to the spiritual inheritance of the nation of Israel
throughout the
generations expect that this list will act together with the rest of the
positive forces in Israel to increase the honor of the Torah and enrich
Jewish education in all the ranks of the public. The strengthening and
broadening of Torah education is the only guarantee for correcting social
wrongs, reducing economic gaps, and building a just society that strives for
good for all its citizens.
That it be that God graces their handiwork, and they are rewarded with great
success in the elections and all their wishes be fulfill for good.
Rabbi Eliezer Waldman – Kiryat Arba
Rabbi Shmuel Yaniv – Givat Shmuel
Rabbi David Ben Chaim – Bat Yam
Rabbi Dov Lior – Kiryat Arba
Rabbi Zalman Melamed – Beit El
Rabbi Moshe Tzuriel – Bnei Brak
Rabbi Avraham Kurzweil – Karnei Shomron
Rabbi Chaim Steiner – Beit El
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Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director
IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-9-7411645
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
pager 03-6750750 subscriber 4811
Website: http://join.virtual.co.il/cgi-win/imra.exe
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Jerusalem, April 27, 1999
Friends,
Only the National Unity party will fight for all that we believe in.
Ruth and Nadia
BELIEVE: YOU CAN STILL CHANGE THINGS FOR THE BETTER!
The National Unity Movement (HaIchud Haleumi)
Moledet-Herut-Tekumah
Only one Movement says “NO” to giving away further parts of the Land of Israel.
Only one Movement can stem the erosion of our defensibility.
Only one Movement adheres to the eternal Jewish values of integrity, clean hands,
candor and honesty.
Only one Movement expresses concretely a consistent fusion of Jewish destiny with
purposeful action; while, at the same time, it actively pursues a lasting and real
peace with its Arab neieghbors.
Only one Movement, on a daily basis, has the secular and the religious, the Sephardim
and the Ashkenazim, the Russians, the Anglo-Saxons, and the Ethiopians — all working
together!
The reason is simple. They are united in a common cause — the selfless devotion to
their People, their Country and their glorious Jewish Heritage!