News and Updates

Eretz Yisrael belongs to the Jewish people, and we should not distinguish between YESHA (Judea and Samaria) and the rest of Israel, MK Gilad Erdan told Likud Anglos in Ra'anana on October 30. We have even more right to live in Shiloh and Hevron - where we have ancient historical links - than in Tel Aviv and Holon, added Erdan. Unlike Kadima and Labor, who are happy to give up land and strategic assets, Likud wants to keep as much territory as possible in the hands of the Jewish people, while recognizing that in the future some concessions may be made if a Palestinian leader arises who will genuinely fight terrorism.

A belief in a free market economy and restoring Jewish content to the school curriculum as well as the national agenda are other areas where Likud differs from the other major parties, according to Erdan. It is important for Israel to stay a Jewish state and that people see that it is a Jewish state, Erdan said. He also said he supports legislation such as the Friedman reforms to limit the power of the Supreme Court which greatly exceeds that of high courts in western democracies, and to give the Knesset a stronger role in the selection of judges. He will also work to achieve district election of one third of the Knesset.

The Kadima government failed in the Second Lebanon War by in effect surrendering to Hizbullah without getting back our kidnapped soldiers and by allowing Hizbullah to rearm, Erdan said. There are now triple the number of missiles threatening Israel from Southern Lebanon as there were before the war. Kadima also caused a humanitarian disaster by uprooting the residents of Gaza, resulting in missile attacks against the South by Hamas and other terrorist organizations. Unless we topple the Olmert / Livni government, the same scenario will be repeated in the West Bank.

Erdan, who was one of the most active legislators in the 17th Knesset, also highlighted the successful laws he sponsored, including several consumer protection bills, prohibiting smoking in public places, and a law that goes into effect next April that will provide free basic cable television service without subscribing. He also strongly advocated for his campaigns to reduce traffic accidents and to discourage drug use.