Another Take on Next Tuesday’s Elections …

With thanks to and permission of Ellen Horowitz.

Bird Flu Over the Cuckoos Nest and Other Reflections
by Ellen W. Horowitz

Until a week ago, every time I spotted flocks of migratory birds from my kitchen window in the Golan Heights, I would grab the binoculars and rush the kids outside to watch a spectacular site. Nowadays, when I spot the flocks, I yell “duck”, grab the kids, and race into the house for cover.

That I have 10 chickens running around my backyard adds to my anxiety. I’ve come to like my chickens. If you recall, two years ago Purim, I expressed a different type of chicken anxiety in “One Tough Chicken.” And so every morning, I arise and look out of my window to see if they’re all still alive and well. It gives new meaning to the expression, counting your chickens before they…croak (G-d forbid).

I’m not sure what the connection is, but both votes and chickens are being culled this week. The cackle of and concern over dying birds and votes only adds to the cacophonic symphony that makes up life in this nation.

It brings to mind Moses as he descends Mt. Sinai and responds to Joshua’s comments with: “It is not the song of victory, nor the the groans of the defeated. What I hear is simply noise.” (Exodus 32:18)

The romp around the golden ballot box has us all dizzy. I look at the election carnival and can only recall that the women didn’t participate in the Golden Calf episode. And so, there is a part of me that wants to vote no-confidence and take up the anti-suffrage position. What should be a celebration of our inalienable rights has become a national embarrassment.

The embarrassment factor plays heavily in Likud’s poor showing in the polls. But make no mistake, people – a lot of them – are going to vote for Likud. For many it will be a tactical move and a strategic choice rather than an ideological one.

Outside of the very bold, talented and politically astute writer, Caroline Glick, few of us are willing to openly admit that Likud, under the leadership of Netanyahu, will get our vote.

[NOTE: It’s worth reminding the readership that after finishing her service in the IDF, Glick held a key position in the Oslo Negotiations under former Prime Minister Rabin. We are talking about a woman who has grappled with immense issues and has done serious intellectual teshuva.]

Some of us are grateful for the nickname Bibi, because, in a politically hateful atmosphere, the name is so easy to mumble under one’s breath – whereas enunciating Binyamin Netanyahu takes a full 7 syllables and is far more difficult to conceal.

Those on the right who hold the Likud in disdain, should remember that the overwhelming majority the top 18 slots of today’s Likud voted against Disengagement. And outside of Likud’s number 2 Silvan Shalom (funny how the number 2 slot is rather problematic for a few parties this year), those in the remaining slots who supported Disengagement tried a variety of intricate political maneuvers to promote referendums or defend settler’s rights.

The term Likud rebels is a misnomer. The only rebel was Ariel Sharon who trashed his party’s platform, his party’s colleagues, and bolted in order to form another misnomer called Kadima (Forward).

I’m a little perplexed as to why Netanyahu is still such a hated figure among many in the national camp. Getting second chances and an opportunity to rectify past mistakes is certainly big on the list of Jewish values. It’s puzzling, that most of us have chosen to retain Sara’s maid in the recesses of our memory, rather than Bibi’s outstanding Prime Ministerial record with regards to fighting terrorism and creating economic reforms. That to this day he remains the only Prime Minister to have placed his reputation and career on the line on behalf of Jonathan Pollard is noteworthy. We all remember his errors in relation to the Wye and Hebron agreements, but it was also during Netanyahu’s term that the Western Wall Tunnel project was completed and opened to the public – an endeavor which took us Jews both spiritually and physically a bit closer to fulfilling our ultimate aspirations?

Some of Netanyahu’s biggest blunders showed some foresight. He tried to eliminate Hamas leader Khaled Meshal, but the attempt failed miserably and resulted in the release of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and other prisoners, who were swapped in order obtain the release of our captured Mossad agents. Everyone remembers that the mishap got Jordan’s King Hussein up in arms. But it’s been forgotten that it was Bibi who got that same King to kneel-down, pay respects and express remorse in the Beit Shemesh home of a Jewish family who was grieving the loss of their daughter after a Jordanian soldier opened fire and killed 7 Israeli school girls and wounded several others in March of 1997.

And speaking of kings, the Jewish people want and need one so badly that every time we elect a new Prime Minister, we burst into another rendition of the song Dovid Melech Yisrael. And that’s where the Israeli public makes the mistake. We must take a continuous pro-active stance and gauge our Prime Minister’s performance. It seems that when our side wins, we breath a sigh of relief and then simply wipe our hands of national responsibilities in order to get back to our daily lives. However, not everyone is like that. Some join the party as professional advisors and take an operative and paid role in the blunders.

It pains me to remind the national religious camp that there were so many knitted kippot surrounding and advising Bibi back 1996, that naming names would take this article to ridiculous lengths. I suppose it must be some psychological self-hatred issue. We can’t come clean and admit that something went awry in ourselves, and so we resort to slinging mud at the man who takes it and wears it quite well. I don’t think this is about his ego, but it may be about ours. Whereas Shimon Peres’s denial of the public’s disdain for him borders on delusional, Netanyahu is painfully aware that he is loathed by the press, the peace camp, a hefty portion of the public (after all, they claim he killed their lord) and by many others – who for whatever reason can’t quite put their finger on it. I’m not so sure if it’s secular Zionism that’s the crux of the problem today.

[Lest you think I just took a crack at the national religious block in favor of the men in black, I can assure you that I remember it was the inclusion of Shas in the pro-Oslo government, and the twisted halachic ruling of their spiritual mentor, that opened the gates of hell for those who cherish Eretz Yisrael and Jewish blood.]

Getting back to crocheting… why did you knitted kippa guys take Transfer off of your platform? That’s a slap in the face to the memory of Rehavam Zeevi – the last of the great public servants and true lovers of Zion. One of the rare and noteworthy accomplishments of the last few years is that a party with Transfer on the agenda finally gained legitimacy and was included in the government. Joining forces with Mafdal was supposed to strengthen the National Union’s position, not dilute it.

On to Hazit… Baruch, as long as your presentation remains too unrefined and unconvincing for public consumption, then it makes no difference if Kahana was right. Disciples of spiritual or political leaders whether they be the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Meir Kahana, Winston Churchill, or Mahatma Ghandi, have an obligation to honor the memory of their teachers by being exceptionally careful and exemplary with their words and actions. Otherwise they end up inadvertently cursing their mentor’s memory, rather than blessing it.

That our media doesn’t allow the national or religious camps easy access to the mainstream channels of expression is no excuse. Even mild-mannered Izzy Liebler was able to pen the word “treason,” with relation to our leaders, in the Jerusalem Post in a piece called Of Corruption and Treason (January 22, 2003). I used the T term again in a follow-up and published letter to the editor. So Baruch, we just have to try harder in politics and in print to get the truth across. The alternative is to keep it on the streets – which is not necessarily a bad thing.

As you can tell, I’m hardly a fan of Mr. Marzel “the politician”. Still, Marzel’s expressed disdain for Avneri is understandable. Avneri’s comparisons are sinister and despicable, and they take the issue of moral equivalency to new depths. Judge for yourself.

I’m not advocating targeted killings of my political opponents, but
for the record (and because I’m not running for political office) I can declare that I wouldn’t mind if some migratory birds flu over Gush Shalom and pooped on target.

Hope and pray for a surprise showing by Likud and very healthy results for the rest of the right wing camp, because we may very well find ourselves in the opposition. Remember that a cohesive opposition with a strong leader can actually be more effective than participation in a stifling and restrictive government coalition.

People like Eldad, Leiberman, Landau, Netanyahu, Sharansky, and Rivlin may not have head coverings or much religious indoctrination under their belts, but even in the world of politics there may exist a diminutive spark of purity. I think these people fear their Creator without even knowing it. What they deem as national and personal responsibility is ultimately their devotion to and recognition of a higher purpose. And with all of their faults, we can be sure that G-d cherishes them.

I remember in your favor the kindness of your youth, your love as a bride, when you followed Me in the wilderness, in an unsown land.” (Yirmiyahu 2:2)

It should be a lesson to those of us who are Torah observant, that anyone who clings to traditional Zionist values while continuing to live in a today’s very harsh and secular political environment should not to be dismissed or degraded. Tradition has it there should be a separation between kingship and priesthood. It might very well be that the ideal role of the Torah observant Jew is to provide a support system, advice and moral guidance to worldly and potentially strong leaders.

This religious Zionist writer wishes the loyal remnants of Likud, under the leadership of Binyamin Netanyahu, a strong showing in this Tuesday’s elections.

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The writer and her family live on the Golan Heights. She is a painter, columnist and author of The Oslo Years: A Mother’s Journal.