Israel Perspectives: Feeling 'Right' at Home: Delusional in Israel

There is a well-known saying by Lord Acton, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely".

This quote accuratley sums up the state of affairs in the Likud today, where the Likud Central Committee is currently meeting to determine when to hold their internal primaries.

With the Likud Central Committee set to vote on this issue later today, let's see what justifications some well-known Likud personalities are offering for delaying the primaries (and balance of power within the Likud):

Meir Sheetrit

"I have never before seen a party prepared to give up on its ruling power with such joy and jump into the abyss," Sheetrit said. "I'm telling you: Be careful. Those who support advancing the primary are going to destroy the Likud... The left could rise to power and give up the entire Land of Israel."

Meir... you have become the left, and you have already destroyed the Likud. It is the Likud who has shown time and again that the Likud, and not the left, are the ones who do not hesitate to give away parts of the Land of Israel (from the Sinai, to Hebron, and most recently, Gush Katif and the northern Shomron).

Silvan Shalom

"Have we gone mad?" he asked in a heated address against the November primary date.

"Twelve years ago when we were obstructed by infighting, all we got was [Yitzhak] Rabin, the failed Oslo accords, and [late Palestinian leader Yasser] Arafat. But in 1996 we managed to regain control, and likewise in 2001 and 2003. We won because we were united," Shalom said.

He recommended against rushing the primaries, as it could lead to advancing the general elections and the potential loss of the Likud's grip on the government.

"Then what will we get? [Left-wing MK Shimon] Peres? [Yossi] Beilin? Ahmed Tibi?" Shalom demanded.

Silvan, I think it is you who has gone mad. If it is a united Likud that has brought us the expulsion of thousands of Jews from their homes, and the destruction of Jewish communities and holy sites, then I prefer a divided Likud.

The Likud, a once glorious party, has become a party full of apparatchiks and political appointees, devoid of the Jewish / nationalist ideology that once made it such a proud party.

Tzipi Livni