Weekly Commentary: Disappointment Over Handling of Temple Mount Flyer
Incident by Moshe Feiglin
Dr. Aaron Lerner Date: 16 February 2012

First the facts as verified in a 13 February interview with Shmuel Sackett,
International Director and Co-Founder of Moshe Feiglin’s “Manhigut Yehudit”:
[For recording:
http://youtu.be/Q-OR-Vo38Lo ]

1. Moshe Feiglin visits the Temple Mount each month.

2. This month, as in previous months, he included an invitation to join
him for the visit in the message that he sent out to his e-mail list.

3. Some unidentified third party prepared and distributed a flyer with
the following wording:
[For copy:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=309323112449336 ]

The Likud
Members of the Central Committee
Along with its thousands of members
Lead by Moshe Feiglin
Chairman of “Manhigut Halikud” [AL: literally “Likud Leadership” – wording
close to his actual organization/Likud faction “Manhigut Yehudit”]
Are invited to assent to the Temple Mount and praise God,
And declare that healthy leadership begins with total control over the
Temple
Mount.

Purification of the place from the enemies of Israel, who rob lands,
and build the Temple on the ruins of the mosques.

Without any fear!

Meeting Sunday 19th of Shvat [AL: 12 February]
... at 8:00 in the morning

4. By Friday, 10 February, the organization was aware of the existence of
the fake flyer and that it was getting considerable coverage and attention
in the world media in general and the Arab media in particular.

5. As a matter of policy, no efforts were made to advise anyone –
including the press – that the flyer was a fake or to dissociate from the
message in the flyer – in particular the call to build the Temple of the
ruins of the mosques.

6. On Sunday 12 February the Police, citing security concerns, did not
permit Moshe Feiglin, or any other non-Moslem, to visit the Temple Mount for
the day.

I am extremely disappointed in how Moshe Feiglin handled this incident.

The incident, that could have been so easily neutralized, had tremendous
potential to turn into a serious security problem.

On these grounds alone it was irresponsible of him not to kill the story.
Something that could have been done in a matter of minutes.

But it goes beyond that.

Moshe Feiglin is not a private individual and his Manhigut Yehudit is also
part of a greater collective.

The story around the world identified the Likud Party with the call to build
the Temple on the ruins of the mosques.

Shmuel Sackett argued that Feiglin did not have to issue a denial because
his views are well known.

Suffice it to say that the readers of WAFA, SANA and the many other Arab
news organs that covered the story are not well versed in Moshe Feiglin’s
worldview. All they know, after reading the news item, is that the Likud
Party, the very same party that leads the ruling coalition in Israel, wants
to somehow demolish the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aksa Mosque in order to
build the Temple.

Moshe Feiglin may want to take a cavalier attitude towards his own
reputation, but that doesn’t give him the right to impose that same attitude
towards the Likud.

The position that there is no need to engage in what might be termed
defensive or reactive activity may even have some appeal to Moshe Feiglin’s
supporters, but leadership sometimes requires a perspective that extends
beyond the limits of one’s own followers.

The Likud is indeed a “big tent”.

If there is space for Dan Meridor from the left then there is certainly a
place in the Likud for Moshe Feiglin.

But if you are inside the Likud “tent” then you owe the Likud collective to
take an active rather than passive role when you find yourself caught up in
a story that defames the Party.

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(Mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
Website: http://www.imra.org.il