Dear Friends,
Before anything else, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I thank those of you who are here tonight, and those who could not get here in the freezing cold. I thank the tens of thousands of volunteers and supporters who have been with me for years.
All of you, throughout this long journey that began twenty years ago with the establishment of Zo Artzeinu, continued with Manhigut Yehudit, registration for the Likud and the challenge of leadership –have changed the face of Israeli society and Israeli politics.
We cannot even begin to imagine the State of Israel without you. You changed the face of the ruling party and in a dialectic process, you brought about a major revolution in the Religious Zionist party. You are responsible for the way the Likud looks today and for the Jewish Home phenomenon, as well. “It’s all because of you.”
All these important achievements, however, are just stepping stones. The most important challenge and achievement is still before us. We must remember at all times that while we made changes here and there and while we enjoyed major accomplishments – one fact remains:
Only here, in this hall, are the political people who hold the keys to dealing with the challenges facing Israel today.
There is no leadership in Israel – except for the people sitting here – that knows how and is capable of dealing with the rock thrown in Taibeh, the knife in Jerusalem, the missile from Gaza and the nuclear bomb in Iran.
There is no leadership in Israel – except for the people sitting here – that knows how and is capable of transforming the State of Israel into a truly Jewish state of liberty; a state of liberty that does not degenerate into a state of all its citizens and Zuabis.
There is no leadership in Israel – except for the liberty-people sitting here – that knows how and is capable of lowering the costs of housing and food.
There is no political leadership in Israel – except for the people sitting here – that has not been consumed by the peace industry that was built here, becoming subservient to the Oslo mentality and language.
No other leadership talks about One State for One Nation in One Land.
There is no leadership in Israel – except for the people here – that is truly democratic; that knows how and is capable of establishing true liberty, both personal and national, in Israel. Liberty that comes from Judaism and does not seek to replace it.
Liberty that comes from within our Jewish identity and doesn’t seek to erase it.
Liberty that emanates from the deep understanding that we are all the children of our Father, our King; servants to the Creator of the world alone.
This fetus, which holds the keys to the future of the State of Israel in its hands, was born from the struggle of Zo Artzeinu against the Oslo Accords.
It developed ideologically in Manhigut Yehudit.
And like the Nation of Israel that grew out of the crucible of Egypt, our fetus grew politically within the womb of the Likud.
Many times I have thought that the time had come to emerge from the womb and be born. But I hoped that the Likud would bring us directly to the premiership. Slowly, I understood that it apparently is incapable of doing so.
Like every living thing, a new birth is necessary here; a period of independent maturation from which will grow, soon, with G-d’s help, faith-based leadership; leadership of liberty for the Nation of Israel.