Feiglin Camp: Bibi’s Apology to Biden will Strengthen Manhigut Yehudit in Upcoming Central Committee Elections

March 12, 2010...

Yesterday’s apology from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu to US Vice-President Joe Biden for Israeli Interior Minister Eli Yishai announcing the construction of 1,600 new housing units in the eastern section of Jerusalem takes place against the backdrop of the Prime Minister's internal party struggle with the "Jewish Leadership" faction of the Likud led by Moshe Feiglin.

Biden informed Netanyahu of the US administration's displeasure with Israel issuing these housing tenders, and immediately Netanyahu – after stating that the units were announced without his knowledge - pledged that Israel would not actually break ground on these units for “several” years. Applauding the construction of these units, Feiglin's position is that Israel must not yield to pressure to compromise any part of Jerusalem or any other territories liberated in the Arab-commenced war of 1967.

Netanyahu, as head of the Likud, has been ordered by the Tel Aviv District Court to hold Likud Central Committee elections on April 28th. Even before Netanyahu's apology, polls indicated that the Central Committee elections would result in a substantial increase in Feiglin's influence within the party due to the evermore right-leaning tendencies of the Likud membership.

Feiglin’s camp believes that Bibi’s apology is likely to further increase support for Feiglin among the vast majority of Likud members who are against negotiating over Jerusalem.

Feiglin returned to Israel on Thursday from a weeklong tour of the US where he spoke about the importance of electing new Israeli leadership that will act swiftly and firmly to clarify and stand behind the eternal right of the Jewish people to all of Jerusalem and the entire land of Israel and steer Israeli policy away from negotiations that include any building freezes, land swaps or giveaways.

A Feiglin victory in the Likud Central Committee elections would send a strong signal to the Obama administration that the Israeli public does not share in Netanyahu's apology.