The poet of the book of Psalms wrote: “G-d, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myself in things too great or in things too wonderful for me”. My friends, members of the Knesset, it is not with the joy of a winner that I stand here today, but with a heavy feeling of responsibility.
These are not regular days. I am asking for your trust at a time of world crisis that has not been seen in years. I stand with concern, but at the same time with hope and faith, but mainly with a feeling of serious consideration in these times of tribulation.
Israel faces two enormous tests: economy and security. These crises are consequences of tremendous international developments, major thunderstorms that have occurred around us. Our past deeds or failures are not the roots of these crises, but our actions and governing in the near future will determine if we will be able to peacefully overcome them.
On this day, I wish to express my full faith in the ability of the people of Israel’s ability to successfully contend with the changes they are facing.
.....No journey is as wonderful as the Jewish one in the midst of time. No struggle as the Jewish struggle to return and re-establish its life as a free and sovereign nation to its homeland is as justified as the Jewish one. There is no question, no doubt on Israel’s right to exist in this country. There is no question - and we shall not let anyone and any country to doubt Israel’s right to exist.
The 21st century had made it very clear that the future of the Jewish people is dependent on the future of the State of Israel, and therefore it is our duty to do all that it takes in order to ensure its security, its might and its prosperity.
We can overcome any obstacle, as long as we are determined and united. Therefore it was my goal to unite all of the major political forces in the country. It was the present need, and I put in constant efforts in order to achieve the goal of unity.
.....The Jewish people have learned a lesson. We cannot go easy on megalomaniac tyrants who threaten to destroy us. And unlike the awful trauma that we have experienced in the previous century, when we were hopeless and state-less, today we are not defenseless. We have a state and we know how to protect it.
.....Regarding the world economic crisis – it is indeed unprecedented in its parameters. The crisis hurts each and every one of us and threatens the jobs of thousands of Israelis. We do not yet know how and when it will end. But one thing I am convinced of: the Israeli market has an obvious advantage which allows it to better confront it, more than many other economies.
.....Our governmental system does not match to this kind of time of test. The wide government that is presented to you today, only shows the real need of a national unity, but also represents a certain failure of the existing system. This failure can be fixed, and we will do it. Nonetheless, the government that will be leading Israel in the next few years will need to understand the huge responsibility and obligation it is taking, as well as the important decisions that may define our destiny.
.....Fellow citizens of Israel,
At this time of test, we shall all see ourselves as an integral part, as a link in the chain of our existence and independence.
Over this stage in Jerusalem, our eternal capital, I pray to the Creator of the Universe, that He will bless the work of our hands, and that the unity, in which we have started our way, will be a sign of favor, and the beginning of a great spirit to ensure our future
Full entire speech can be read here
