Israeli Third Temple party gains traction
The right-wing, radical Zehut party of former Knesset member Moshe Feiglin is gaining traction and might even enter the Knesset following the April elections.
Whether the upcoming government will be formed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or by Blue and White head Benny Gantz, one thing seems clear: The next Knesset will likely have a respectable representation of the Temple Mount Faithful movement, whose vision is to establish the Third Temple in Jerusalem.
According to recent polls, former Knesset member Moshe Feiglin’s Zehut party, which means identity in Hebrew, will pass the electoral threshold and may well constitute the surprise of the elections. Feiglin promises his voters that he will act on behalf of legalizing cannabis, causing many youths to join him. If the momentum continues, Feiglin and his messianic movement may be the party that tips the scales to determine who will assemble the next government. Therefore, Feiglin is now keeping his views regarding the rebuilding of the Temple and transfer of Arabs to himself. Instead, he raises the banner for cannabis legalization — at least until after the elections, of course.
But in his party’s election platform — probably unread by Feiglin’s cannabis voters — the political program is black and white. In the first stage, Feiglin proposes to abolish the Oslo Accords. After that, Israel could re-take control of the West Bank and extend its full sovereignty. The Feiglin plan offers non-Jewish residents of the West Bank either assistance in emigration (in other words, transfer); a status of permanent residency in the Jewish Halachic state (i.e., Israel governed by Jewish religious law); or citizenship. Citizenship will be granted only to those who wish to be loyal citizens and serve in the army. They will receive full citizenship after a "long and thorough examination track."
