After 14 years in the press profession and more than ten years as editor of a weekly page on Temple Mount affairs in Makor Rishon, Arnon Segal decided to run for a place on the list of religious Zionism in the Knesset. “Absolutely not with a light heart,” he wrote in a statement issued last night. This morning (Sunday), Deputy Minister Yair Golan responded to his announcement.
“Guess who will pay with his blood for the return to Gush Katif, for the rebuilding of the Temple,” wrote Golan, who is running for the Meretz presidency. “Our children are in danger on the part of Messianic nationalists. My God, how did this distortion occur in our dear and good people?”
“Recognize the Temple Mount as a holy place for Jews and allow freedom of worship there”
Golan wrote the remarks in response to Segal’s explanations as to why he chose to run for a place on the list of religious Zionism. Segal wrote: “Many years of dealing with our national home on the Temple Mount and constant warnings about the lawlessness that prevails in it, have led to the conclusion that the time has come to change this inconceivable reality from end to end. Too many years we abandoned our big dreams We have a big dream, the dream of the Jewish generations, and it is time to realize it: to recognize the Temple Mount as a holy place for Jews and to allow freedom of worship there. “
According to Segal, the big dream he is talking about, “touches on countless other issues that require an urgent decision, while we choose for some reason to delay. After 17 years of shuffling, it’s time to strive to return to Gush Katif as well. Yes, to really rebuild it. “Sooner or later, it seems clear to everyone that we will have no choice but to defeat Hamas, and then we will face the need to decide what will be done in this area that we threw behind our backs in 2005.”
“For all these holy purposes I will try to tackle”
Arnon Segal set additional goals, in the field of law and civil security: “It is time to abolish the grandchild section of the Law of Return, so that only Jews according to Halacha can immigrate to Israel. From the Committee for the Selection of Judges, to abolish the possibility for the High Court to invalidate laws and split the role of the Attorney General. It is time to restrain the police and the GSS and bring the law enforcement agencies to uphold the law and the dignity of the good citizens – and especially to know how to differentiate between an enemy and a lover. “
“The time has come for the Chief Rabbinate to cease to be the religious NCO of the State of Israel and return to its original purpose: the guide to the many, spiritual and halakhic authority. The electorate must change. No more 150 random activists but polling stations where the members of the Rabbinical Council can elect anyone who undertakes to abide by its rulings. The number of members of the Chief Rabbinate Council should increase from 15 to 71, and those in turn will elect the Chief Rabbis.
For all these holy purposes I will try to face, with great prayer to be worthy and succeed in change. “