Ze'ev Vows No Coalition Without Decisive Victory
Rabbi Yitzchak Ze'ev, a candidate for the Otzma Yehudit party, stated in an interview with Arutz 7 that the upcoming elections are intended to prevent future tragedies and secure a decisive victory for Israel. He outlined a policy for Gaza that includes "conquest, expulsion, and settlement," emphasizing that his party will not join a government that does not aim for such a win.
Ze'ev, running for the Knesset alongside Moshe Feiglin, articulated a vision focused on a profound shift in national and security policy, alongside strengthening the country's Jewish identity. He believes current policies of partial resolutions and cyclical conflicts are insufficient and come at a heavy cost to reservists and their families.
Regarding the Gaza Strip, Ze'ev advocated for a strategy of occupation, expulsion, and settlement, asserting that victory is unattainable without this approach. He clarified that Otzma Yehudit will not join any government that does not commit to these principles. He also suggested that a strong party led by Feiglin could provide Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the political backing needed to withstand international pressure.
The interview also addressed issues in the Negev and Galilee. Ze'ev rejected viewing crime within the Arab community solely as a criminal matter, framing it as a broader national challenge. He described a loss of governance in the south, citing issues like protection rackets and dangerous driving, and called for increased state resources to address these internal problems. He also supported expanding Jewish settlement in the Galilee, praising plans by Bezalel Smotrich to bolster settlement there as a means of restoring governance and Jewish presence.
Ze'ev differentiated between Arab citizens who accept Israel as a Jewish state and those who oppose it. He supported expelling terrorists and encouraging the emigration of Arabs who do not accept Jewish national identity, including from Judea and Samaria, proposing a plan to identify destination countries and facilitate emigration. He sees Otzma Yehudit as offering the comprehensive political, security, and economic depth he sought after October 7th.
On religion and state, Ze'ev stressed individual liberty, believing connection to Jewish identity should be voluntary, not coerced. However, he called for a more pronounced expression of the state's Jewish identity in national and governmental spheres, particularly concerning war and security. He sees himself as continuing the legacy of rabbis like Hanan Porat and Chaim Druckman, bridging religious study with practical action, citing his background in law, business, and management.
