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Netanyahu? Believe him By Avirama Golan Tags: Benjamin Netanyahu, elections  Benjamin Netanyahu was not the only politician to pose for pictures beside the destroyed wall of a house struck by a Qassam this week in Sderot, but he took advantage of the situation better than any of the others. Not only was the countenance of the Likud leader severe and concerned, as if responsibility for the country's security were already weighing on his shoulders, his remarks also seemed to carry a historic message, promising to destroy Hamas and "restore our national honor." The night before he met with Avigdor Lieberman to talk about Yisrael Beiteinu joining forces with Likud ahead of the election, or forming a united opposition front after it. It later emerged that MK Effi Eitam had contributed NIS 12 million to Likud along with his National Union Knesset faction, thus raising chances for Netanyahu's party winning the votes of those on the extreme right, many of whom left the Likud after Moshe Feiglin disappointed in the party primary. Advertisement This weekend, despite its wink to the right, Likud was estimated to have lost six seats, according to a Haaretz-Dialog poll. Not to Kadima, however, but to the extreme right. Netanyahu has no reason to present voters with a more extreme image in order to draw votes. It is clear, after all, that after the election the right-wing bloc will unite its forces anyway. But is Netanyahu any different from Lieberman or Eitam? In recent years, especially since he was able to convince the entire world that he single-handedly saved the Israeli economy from collapse, many in the left and center have come to view Netanyahu as a pragmatist. I care what the Americans think about Netanyahu, they say, and ultimately, when he comes to power he will give up the entire West Bank if necessary. The only problem, they further say, is that he is unreliable. Kadima's public relations gurus have built their campaign against him on this premise, using the slogan, "Bibi? I don't believe him." Throughout his political career, Netanyahu never acted as an unprincipled pragmatist - not as foreign minister, who represented the uncompromising policies of then prime minister Yitzhak Shamir, not as an inexperienced prime minister and certainly not as finance minister. Netanyahu's term at the Finance Ministry proves more than anything how much he adheres to a clear, defined worldview, both economically and politically. In the best neoconservative tradition, these worldviews are not in contradiction, but coexist in complete harmony. His promises of restoring national honor and the Golan Heights remaining in Israeli hands forever, as well as his assurances that Israel will never have a partner for peace - all these are real and it is no use dismissing them. The "economic peace" he speaks of has Israel holding on to the occupied territories but provide work and quality of life to the Palestinians, thereby suppressing their national ambitions. It is identical to Moshe Dayan's colonial idea, which laid the basis for Israel's settlement fiasco in the territories. It was Dayan who created the illusion of pragmatism while actually shifting rightward. But Netanyahu is far more extreme than Dayan - "good for the Jews" he may be, but very bad for Israel. When he speaks with pride about the elimination of child allowances for large families, for example, he prefers not to mention the ultra-Orthodox, but only Arab citizens of Israel, in a way that makes the listener quiver. It seems as though those of the left and center who embraced Netanyahu as finance minister have suddenly forgotten all his errors, injustices and careless remarks, and are struggling to understand how the wonderful economist from a first-rate American university is closer to Eitam and Lieberman, two extremists easy to hate, than he is to them. Kadima's slogan seems to be aimed at them, but it remains mistaken and misleading. Netanyahu? Better to believe him, because he does exactly what he says he will - along with Eitam and Lieberman, with United Torah Judaism and Shas. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Reviving the Mideast U.S envoy to the Mideast is due to arrive in Israel for talks on boosting a Gaza cease-fire. Iranian uranium London Times: Iran's supply of yellow cake may run out within months.   1.   Yes. That`s Exactly Why I`m Voting Likud. 14:00  |  Ovadiah ben Avraham 28/12/08   2.   netanyahu 06:37  |  jbm 29/12/08   3.   netanyahu 07:57  |  pj 29/12/08   4.   BIBI NOT A HERO.ABANDONED HEBRON,POLARD,PUT JEWS IN MORTAL DANGER 08:22  |  THE MACCABEE))))) 29/12/08   5.   I will vote for Bi Bi just to stick it to the Left. 07:49  |  David T. 30/12/08   6.   Bibi is fabulous in Every way!!! 13:33  |  Dr eric 30/12/08   7.   netanyahu 09:59  |  allan 25/01/09

Read & React Kadima: Netanyahu-led Israel would clash with Obama Responses: 18 Rabbi Menachem Froman: Can we change Hamas? It's worth a try Responses: 5 R. Pedatzur: Since there was no real war in Gaza, Israel can't declare victory Responses: 3 Gideon Levy: Livni no different from her extremist rivals Barak, Netanyahu Responses: 1 More Headlines 09:41 'U.S. Navy hunting down Iran ships sent to rearm Hamas in Gaza' 06:34 Kadima: Netanyahu-led Israel would clash with Obama 06:35 ANALYSIS / Netanyahu's anti-Obama flak jacket 09:53 Week after war's end, Gaza residents salvage what they can 06:38 ANALYSIS / Gaza gains have softened Israel stance on Shalit deal 01:05 Will uranium shortage really slow down the Iranian nuclear program? 09:52 Israel's Gaza op draws large U.S. audience to Al-Jazeera TV 09:02 OPINION / Can we change Hamas? It's worth a try 07:58 Mitchell due in Israel Wed. as Obama launches peacemaking efforts 09:06 Jordan's King Abdullah fires intel chief over Hamas support 04:41 Lesbian mothers embroiled in unprecedented battle for custody of 2 children 08:30 Israel to make 'massive investment' to boost air safety 08:38 Israel Bank chief set to lower interest rates 04:36 Survey shows Israel's poor grew even poorer in 2007-2008 Previous Editions Select Day 23 jan 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 19 jan 18 jan 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 12 jan 11 jan

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