Odd Man Out; Ehud Barak, Binyamin Netanyahu, Itamar Ben Gvir and Betzalel Smotrich!

Following up on yesterday’s article, Ehud Barak has no Shame! Where we pointed out that Barak was fast becoming an irrelevant anachronism in Israeli politics as he ferments division among Israelis. Compare his motivation and cynical approach to gaining power for the sake of power with that of Itamar Ben Gvir, Betzalel Smotrich and, dare I say it, Binyamin Netanyahu. These three men are controversial figures for different reasons, yet they have more in common than one may think.

The three of them are committed Zionists; all be it approaching Zionism from different perspectives. They are, without doubt, three of the most colourful personalities to emerge from the intellectual ferment brought forward by Zionism in the last forty years. Netanyahu from secular Zionism, while Ben Gvir and Smotrich have drawn on Religious Zionism for their political inspiration. Netanyahu, love him or hate him, is a gifted politician, an orator with mass appeal, and a writer whose books have left a critic of terrorism and Israel’s security needs. A product of his father’s devotion to the Zionist cause and the Jewish State becoming a reality in his lifetime has moulded this man into the leader we see today.

On the other hand, Itamar Ben Gvir and Betzalel Smotrich use the language of Biblical Zionism and that of Zev Jabotinsky. These two leaders currently tower above the current batch of Zionist leaders in their sensibilities and patriotic fervour for spiritual and political redemption. None of the high-profile leaders of Zionism can rival them at this point in time. They are both more attuned to the political and social convulsions post-October seven than any of their contemporaries in the Religious Zionist leadership and thus are in a position to influence the direction that Israel must take in its fight against Arab nationalists and its confrontation with the Americans and Europeans who seek to undermine the nation and deliver it into the hands of its enemies. Whether religious or secular, these three hold the key to Israel’s future in moulding a political, practical program post-October seven.

This is something Ehud Barak can never achieve while he alienates the majority of Israelis on his quest to bring down a sitting Prime Minister to satisfy his naked ambition.

An extraordinary soldier, a failed Prime Minister and a Benedict Arnold let loose on the Jewish State.

Yosef Yigal Drever

Yosef Yigal Drever and Sylvia Drever co-founded Achdut HaLev in 2006 to reach out to the Jewish community's around the world providing support in learning Torah and promoting the 'Return of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel.' Yosef Yigal made Aliya in 2014 while Sylvia his wife is an Israeli. In late 2014 Achdut HaLev concentrated all its resources towards Aliya and the rebuilding of Eretz Yisrael. Excluding none and embracing all. The commandment to settle the Land of Israel is equal in importance to all the Torah Commandments all together: (Sifri Deut 12:29)