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To the excited applause of Likud activists at  the Exhibition Grounds in Tel Aviv, Netanyahu mounted the podium to address the crowd.

“Thank you to everyone and to the candidates for the next Knesset.
The Jewish people came to life in the Land of Israel and established a democracy worthy of emulation. Almost four million voters went to the  polls today, despite the stormy weather and rain, young and old, left and right, from all walks of life.”

“They came despite the dire predictions and proved that the country is dear to them. We still do not know the final results but one thing is already clear: The people of Israel has had its say, loud and clear: the national camp headed by the Likud has a clear lead,” said Netanyahu, and added” In the outgoing Knesset, the national camp had fifty seats and now it has an absolute majority.”

“Our party, too, has soared. In the last Knesset we had 12 seats, only 10% of the Knesset, and in this Knesset, we have more than doubled our strength, an increase greater than any  other party.  This shows that the Likud will form the next government together with the other parties of the national camp.
The government that I head will have to confront many serious problems, in the area of  defense and the economy. We are facing a nuclear threat from Iran, and we are facing an economic tempest  that is threatening jobs in Israel. The voters have had their say -  they want us at the helm of government to face these challenges  In order to do so, we will take in anyone who is prepared to tackle these tasks”, and Netanyahu added” Many of them are already standing here on this podium.”

“With G-d’s help, I will be the next Prime Minister. I am confident that I will succeed in forming a large, stable government  that will meet the challenges in defense and the economy and bring about reforms in education. I will turn first of all to our natural coalition partners.”

“Then I plan to speak with all of the Zionist parties to unite the nation’s resources in order to lead Israel to a path of hope.”
“I want to thank my family who supported me throughout and my good friends who are also here, especially the head of the Likud faction, who did an outstanding job.” Netanyahu also thanked his campaign and staff workers.

“Most of all, I want to thank the people of Israel who believed in us. To those who did not vote for us,” said Netanyahu, “this is a democracy and everyone acted out of his belief. We will act for the benefit of all parts of the  nation.” Netanyahu ended by quoting from  Isaiah “They helped everyone his neighbor and everyone said to his brother, “Be of good courage”.

Netanyahu opened his address at the 6th Annual Jerusalem Conference  by emphasizing the importance and even more, the obligation to keep Jerusalem a united city, an obligation that is historical but also strategic and security-mandated..

“In this hotel, there are mingled feelings of joy and sorrow. Several stories above where we are sitting Rehavam Zeevi, a minister in the Israeli government and lover of Jerusalem, was murdered here several years ago, said Netanyahu. “I say this because the issue of Jerusalem has not been adequately discussed in this election campaign.”

To better understand the different parties positions regarding Jerusalem, Netanyahu advised checking out their previous deeds: “Look at what the candidates and their parties have done. We have never taken any action to undermine the unity of Jerusalem, even when faced with vociferous international pressures”,  said Netanyahu, and mentionerd to the crowd’s applause the decision to build the Har Homa neighborhood.

Netanyahu also spoke of the importance of connecting Maaleh Adumim to Jerusalem and added: “A Jewish neighborhood was built next to the  Mt. of Olives and there was tremendous criticism, but that’s the way things have to develop.”

“The Palestinians brought the offices of the Palestinian Authority to Jerusalem and we closed them leaving them only as a symbol, the Orient House”, Netanyahu reminded the  audience, adding that  he tried to close that too, but was prevented by the High Court from doing so.

“They tried to take another step, to conduct a population census in Jerusalem and we were surprised to find that  no law prevented any foreign agent from doing so. I then charged Knesset members with passing a law within one day that would allow us to block the Palestinian Authority from conducting the census, and thus we showed our fidelity to  an undivided Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty, and we will continue in this way.”

Netanyahu described the reality that would evolve if Jerusalem were divided: “A meter from this hotel would be an Iranian  military base. And you  know what that means.”

“They tell us that to have peace with our neighbors, we must leave the Temple Mount.  I said already in 1995 that radical Islam will bring down the  Twin Towers because it is one of the most conspicuous symbols of Western democratic ideas.”

“If they wanted to harm the place that best symbolizes the religious heritage of the West,, Judaism and Christianity, where would they strike?” asked Netanyahu and answered, “Jerusalem-  we have already seen that  these radicals have no bounds.”

“Whoever says that making concessions on the  Temple Mount will bring peace is wrong. It will bring the exact opposite”, said Netanyahu, promising to keep Jerusalem undivided

Victory on the street-corners = victory at the polls

The activity of volunteers is accelerating as election day nears. We went last Friday with the Likud volunteers in Tel Aviv to hand out stickers and talk to passersby.  The first group stationed itself near the Arlozorof Train Station and the second, at the foot of the Azrieli Towers near the Kirya.

“It was a true experience,” said one of the  activists. “You read news papers, you talk to friends and family but it’s only when you actually get out on the street that you feel what is going on. This is Tel Aviv and  even here, people understand that the time has come to for Likud.” Their enthusiasm became infectious after hearing the  reactions of people on the street. “Likud –nothing else.”, one soldier waved at him as he ran for his train.

There are only a few days left until elections and it seems that the citizens of Israel have already decided – Likud. Nonetheless, we mustn’t be complacent. In order to bring home  a victory, we have to work, to invest time and effort, to bring our enthusiasm and hopes to the  public. The spirit of volunteering and faith is what will bring the Likud its victory.  Not just victory but an overwhelming victory, one that will enable it to lead the country confidently through all of the tremendous challenges it faces: to restore security and peace of mind to all of the citizens of the country; to turn an economic crisis into an opportunity for growth; to transform the Israeli educational system  into one of the finest in the world.

In the two remaining weeks, we will take over the streets and intersections. But next Tuesday, we will all go to Jerusalem, to the great election campaign event  beginning at 19:00 in Binyanei Ha’ooma. For more details, click here.

In preparation for the great election campaign event, you are invited to tell us why it  is important to you to meet Netanyahu personally. The best answer chosen by the visitors to this website will win a visit behind the scenes with Benjamin Netanyahu. If you have an idea, suggestion, or question, you are invited to try to use it to engage the interest of  the next prime minister of Israel. Together we will succeed!

In his address at the closing of the Educational Conference at Tel Aviv University, Netanyahu presented his vision and program for education in Israel.  “Within ten years we can become first rate again on an international scale”, he contended. “If we believe in it, if we direct ourselves toward that goal, we can bring about this change even earlier.”

“The educational system has been in a decline for many years…In the sixties we were in the top ten percentile in the world and today we are in the fiftieth percentile. Even our outstanding students in mathematics only reached the fiftieth place and Iran has passed us, and not by a little.”

“Our problem is serious and requires a serious solution. Before we talk about money -  which always seems to be the answer- I want to focus on the problem. Although we certainly have to raise teachers’ salaries, this not the solution. We know that because in several countries where they raised teachers’ salaries, such as France, which tripled its investments in its pupils – the scores dropped and when you study these results closely, you find a certain consistency.”

The best idea is to learn from the success stories or in this case, from countries which have succeeded. Several things characterize these success stories, and we do not have them.

Improving the level of teaching

“The first thing is the level of teaching, because no educational system can be better than the level of the teachers it has. That is the first thing that makes countries successful; take for example, South Korea and Finland. In order to be accepted to teach, you have to be in the top ten percentile of your college graduating class. The prestige involved creates the attraction to new teachers. They take a narrow group of excellent people and upon this they build the second thing:

Investing resources in teacher training

There is an enormous investment in teacher training, before entering the profession and no less, after entering, said Netanyahu , and drew a parallel between a medical student and a teacher in Israel.

“I don’t know a single successful school in Israel where the principal is not outstanding. When that principal leaves,, its’ only a matter of time before the school begins to decline.  It is the same if you are speaking of a country, a corporation , a political party, or  a school. The executives/principals must be expert and they must be allowed to do their job; that means, more autonomy, more decentralization , and more freedom, said Netanyahu to the applause of his listeners.

Timely handling of problems

The third point, “ continued Netanyahu, “ is that all successful countries handle their weak students in a timely way; they don’t wait until the end of the year”. Netanyahu said that the investment in Finland in this area is tremendous. “Every pupil has a computer screen, and the teacher sees when a pupil can’t answer a question and will come to that pupil at the end of the lesson and sit and explain to him”.

Investing in the core curriculum

“Another point is investing in the core curriculum. We invest relatively little”, said Netanyahu referring to mathematics, composition, reading comprehension, and English. “The core curriculum requires a greater investment”.

Investing in teaching values to pupils

“The last item is values. When a child leaves school, you ask yourself “What kind of child emerges from the system. The question arises whether that child has learned other subjects, has he learned to use his full potential,” said Netanyahu and emphasized, “There is no education like self-discipline, the ability to develop by oneself a desire to learn . There are countries which develop these things, just as they cultivate respect for the teacher and discipline. The need to teach values is growing and the countries which succeed in education do teach values.”

“The goal I wish to achieve”, Netanyahu finished, “is that within ten years we will put the children of Israel back in the top ten percentile. If we set ourselves that goal, with faith and genuine enthusiasm, we can bring about this change even earlier  - and we intend to.”

By Silvan Shalom

This past Saturday, Israel engaged in a justified and important operation, whose purpose is to restore security to the residents surrounding Gaza, Sderot, and Ashkelon, and to restore Israel’s power of deterrence. The transition to proactive governance through a military attack is a process required by a state which stands for its natural right to provide security to its citizens. It is a necessary response by a democratic society, which is required to protect itself against the violent aggression of Hamas, who intends to damage the fabric of the lives of Israeli communities and families found in the midst of the terror of kassam rockets.

The military operation in Gaza however, is not only a military campaign; it is also a publicity campaign. Israel must make clear to the world that through this operation it is seizing and restoring its strength and its natural right to protect itself and its citizens. In order to succeed, even in its publicity campaign, we must remember that it is not enough to be right, and that the weapons of the office of foreign affairs and the publicity arms of Israel are images and pictures, not less than what they’re pleading for.

In order for the world to understand and identify with the purposes of our operation in Gaza, we must show its results against this intolerable aggression: the lives of the families in Sderot and in the communities near Gaza, their descents into bomb shelters, the fear and uncertainty that did not secure, after all this time, a response. By showing the world the daily terrifying reality of these citizens that demand a peaceful life - this is how we will increase our chances of convincing the world in the correctness of our means.

From discussions with international leaders I feel that there exists understanding of Israel’s position and operations, and it seems that there is a good probability that Israel will achieve agreeable objectives within its publicity campaign, however most importantly and separately, that the world must see that we are united.

With the background of the operation in Gaza, we must put aside the election campaign and the distribution of coalitions and oppositions and stand behind the Israeli Defense Forces and the residents of the south. The operation in Gaza is the first step in the process of toppling Hamas and the restoration of our international strength. The time has come for the political leadership and the general public of Israel to put aside old debates and stand shoulder to shoulder in this military and international publicity campaign. After all, the victory of the IDF and the achievement of security to the residents of the south is a victory for all of us.