The Weekly Portion: New Year resolutions

I would like to wish my readers a good year, a year of health and peace, for you and your loved ones.

The fulfillment of some of our wishes for the coming year depends not on us but rather on others who are outside of Israel:

• Stability for the world economy and the US economy in particular. The American Administration has understood at the eleventh hour that only vigorous government intervention can halt the destruction wrought by the unrestrained greed of large private corporations.
• That the democratic countries stand together against the regime of the Ayatollahs in Teheran. A regime whose fascist and anti-Semitic character was again exposed this week in the UN speech of the President of Iran. If these countries impose genuine economic sanctions, if they cease to ingratiate themselves to Iran and court its favor, the need will diminish for a military action to prevent Teheran's Islamist zealots from acquiring nuclear weapons.
• A successful international effort to halt global warming. Quick results are not to be expected, as this is a lengthy battle that was begun late. However if this goal is seriously pursued by the industrialized countries, there is a chance of saving the planet from destructive and irreversible changes.

There are other wishes whose fulfillment depends crucially not on the goodwill but rather the determination of the soon-to-form government, and on the political courage of its ministers.

• Ending the dismantling of the Israeli welfare state, showing governmental responsibility towards the citizens and assuring their personal safety, and returning the rule of law to the Israeli street - all these resolutions are within the power of the government to make.
• Advancing negotiations with the Palestinians, and reaching a framework agreement with them as soon as possible. This is an attainable objective. It will require the political resolve to ignore the threats of Shas, to draw upon the majority that now exists in the Knesset for such an agreement, and to risk going to elections, the subject of which will be choosing between a two-state solution and the outcome of a single bi-national state.
• Changing the reality in Gaza - military, political and economic. Not an accommodation with the regime of Hamas but a vanquishing of it.
• Continuing the process of building up the IDF following the 2nd Lebanon War, and providing the IDF with all necessary means, training and technologies to assure decisive victory in the next round.

This year, exactly four months ago, I founded "Israel Hazaka" - a party whose concern is to guarantee a better and safer future for Israel and its residents. After Rosh Hashana we shall present the Party Platform and begin registration of members, since the necessary legal steps for party formation have been completed. I thank the hundreds of individuals who have joined so far for their well-wishes and their active involvement as founders of "Israel Hazaka". Together we shall work and shall succeed - to bring good years to the people of Israel.