Professor Moshe Cohen Eliya Reveals Election Vote After Deliberation

Professor Moshe Cohen Eliya, a panelist on the "HaPatriotim" program, announced his decision on who he will vote for in the upcoming Knesset elections. In a lengthy post, he detailed the considerations that led to his choice, stating it came "after much deliberation."

Cohen Eliya traced his political journey, recalling his early support for Menachem Begin and the Likud party in the 1981 elections, where he was inspired by principles of freedom. He noted that over time, his political stance shifted, and he found himself in the "moderate left" after experiences in academia, including studies at Hebrew University and Harvard, and his time at Channel 2.

He also reflected on his work as a lawyer for the Association for Civil Rights in 1994, a period during which he felt the organization had become too radical for his nationalistic views, despite his initial interest in civil rights. He mentioned writing a legal opinion defending the Law of Return based on human rights principles, which was met with disapproval by some within the association.

Currently, Cohen Eliya stated he evaluates parties based on four core principles: democracy, where the people are sovereign; liberalism, emphasizing individual rights and equality before the law; nationalism, rooted in the "promised land" and the covenant of the people of Israel with God; and a hawkish, activist security approach, especially after the October 7th events, while adhering to moral boundaries and avoiding war crimes.

He concluded that the Likud party most closely aligns with these principles, despite his criticisms of internal party politics and the initial handling of the judicial reform. He praised Prime Minister Netanyahu's leadership since October 7th as a model of balanced, determined, and brave conduct. However, he stressed his support is conditional and not blind, stating he would withdraw it if the Likud deviates from his core principles. He identified voting for the Likud as the only realistic option for achieving a decisive victory in the war and securing a safe future.