Liberman in Tzfat: Vote Likud-Beytenu for a Strong Gov’t
Published on: December 18, 2012Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Liberman spoke at a conference in Tzafat. Below is a translation of his remarks:
People ask me why they should vote for the joint Likud-Beytenu list. The reason are clear. This government has achieved much. I remember when we began working toward establishing a medical school here in Tzafat. There were great battles over budgets and cries that we just didn’t have the money. But, today, we can proudly look at the Faculty of Medicine here with 230 students and 100 faculty members. This is proof of what can achieve.
Just last year, the headlines declared irreversible the problem of illegal migrants passing through the porous southern border. However, last month, fewer than 30 such migrants stole across Israel’s southern border. The money was found to build a fence along the southern border and we saw immediate results.
Tourism is another area in which Yisrael Beytenu’s efforts bore fruit. We have seen an increase of 600,000 tourists to Israel annually. To fully appreciate this success, one should bear in mind that every 100,000 tourists mean $200 million in revenue and 4000 jobs. Tourism is critical for our economy and under Yisrael Beytenu’s stewardship, this branch has flourished.
One of the most important laws Yisrael Beytenu, more specifically MK Moshe Matalon, passed this Knesset term was the doubling of the grant given to soldiers upon completion of their compulsory service.
We are committed to legislating universal conscription in either the IDF or National Service. While other parties paid lip service to this principle, all 15 of our Knesset Members voted for a bill that would make this concept a reality. Where were the other parties who claimed to be committed to this ideal?
Whoever wants a strong, stable government should vote “Likud-Beytenu.” There is no alternative. If you want a strong prime minister and a powerful coalition, do not vote for splinter parties. There are lots of political parties of the moment poping up these days. They will disappear just as their predecessors did, such as “Shinui” and “Dash.” These small, transient parties weaken the political system. It is important not only to win but to win convincingly. We have to get to 45 seats. This means that we need to mobilize and get to work.
There is another reason to vote Likud – Beytenu: What is our real challenge? Of course our standard of living is important. But more important are our very lives. Have you heard here in Tzfat Ahmadinejad’s recent statement that sanctions will not stop them on the way to a nuclear Iran? We feel the Iranian presence here, in Gaza, Lebanon and Syria. We know that this issue is not merely theoretical. And who is capable of facing these issues successfully? Shelly Yachimovich? Zahava Gal-On?
Those who denounce the construction in Jerusalem are from the Israeli Left, who feel much more strongly about it than Europe. They are opposed to construction in Jerusalem, but instead of saying so directly, they condemn the Israeli government for building in Jerusalem
We have all the right reasons to vote Likud-Beytenu, and I have no doubt what the outcome will be on the 22nd of January.