Right Wing's 1992 Election Failure Offers Ominous Lesson
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
In the 1992 Israeli elections, a fragmented right-wing, including Rabbi Moshe Lvinger's campaign which received only 3,798 votes, failed to cross the electoral threshold. This led to a left-wing victory by Rabin and Peres, paving the way for the Oslo Accords. The author warns that a similar right-wing division could repeat itself in the upcoming election, two days away.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Rabbi Moshe Lvinger's 1992 campaign received only 3,798 votes, failing to pass the Knesset threshold.
- The right-wing's fragmentation in 1992 contributed to a left-wing victory and the Oslo Accords.
- Other right-wing parties like Tzomet, Moledet, Tehiya, and Eliezer Mizrahi also failed to cross the threshold in 1992.
- Internal divisions within the Likud party also weakened the right-wing in the 1992 elections.
- The author questions if lessons from 1992 have been learned ahead of the current election.
The author draws a parallel between the 1992 Israeli elections and the current political climate, warning that a fragmented right-wing could again lead to a left-wing victory and detrimental outcomes, such as the Oslo Accords.
In 1992, Rabbi Moshe Lvinger's campaign, despite a popular television advertisement featuring him firing a gun, garnered only 3,798 votes, falling short of the Knesset's electoral threshold. Lvinger was repeatedly cautioned that his idealistic campaign would not pass the electoral bar, but he was buoyed by enthusiastic crowds and continued his run.
His campaign focused on "Torah completeness and the completeness of the Land of Israel," challenging the then-weak Mafdal party on these issues. The right-wing political spectrum was further divided by the Tzomet party, led by Rafful, and the Moledet party, led by Gandi. Additionally, Yuval Neeman's Tehiya party and Rabbi Eliezer Mizrahi also failed to cross the electoral threshold.
The significant number of wasted votes on the right contributed to the victory of the left-wing bloc, led by Rabin and Peres. This outcome paved the way for the Oslo Accords two years later and the establishment of a haven for terror organizations in Gaza. The article notes that internal divisions within the Likud party also played a role in the right's defeat, as its leaders failed to present a clear and decisive message.
With the current election just two days away, the author questions whether the lessons from 1992 have been learned, implying a risk of repeating past mistakes.
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