Speaking before Likud supporters in the town of Or Yehuda Thursday, opposition leader and MK Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the government's policy of restraint in the face on continuous rocket attacks from Gaza despite the declared ceasefire: "A leader needs to be an active force, not a passive one."
Netanyhu told the massive crowd which showed up to hear him speak that Israel needs a leader who will speak the truth.
"I call on the prime minister to put an end to this restraint," said Netanyahu, "it's absurd that we are restricting ourselves on this matter – untie the army's hands and let it act against the Qassams."
MK's Steinitz, Netanyahu and Saar lighting Hanukkah candles (Photo: Ofer Amram)
"Olmert says that we are tired of responding to the attacks, but the truth is that it is not the people who are tired – Olmert is the one who is tired. There is only one thing that is worse than a people which has lost faith in its leaders, and that is leaders who have lost faith in the people," Netanyahu continued, rallying the crowd by calling on Olmert to resign the premiership to make room for a responsible leadership.
"There is no government in Israel these days," he shouted to the roaring audience.
Netanyahu accused Olmert of not saying it like it is: "It's not easy to speak the truth, which is truly unpopular and requires people to sober up from their illusions, but this is his duty. 2000 years ago there were few who stood against many – the many were the people of Israel who did not want to hear the truth."
"We belong to a movement whose founder told the truth. Our movement has excelled at facing reality, nine months ago we told the truth and got 10 percent of the Knesset, but today, now that we have stood our ground, reality is what brings the public to us," Bibi stated.
Steinitz: Those who would surrender the Golan Heights may surrender Israel
MK Yuval Steinitz gave the first speech of the evening asked the crowd, "What is the spirit of the Maccabis? Their spirit is not a prime minister who talks away Israel with dangerous tongue-slips in Germany. The Maccabi spirit is not a minister of education who wants to eliminate Ariel and the Maccabis from the map."
Steinitz also addressed the offers of peace from Syria and vehemently opposed answering them. "Those who would surrender the Golan Heights may also surrender all of Israel. Only those who are completely ignorant of modern history can develop illusions of peace with a country like Syria ."