The electoral and security asset: why Likud needs Uzi Dayan on the Knesset list | Oded Tira

Ahead of the elections, Likud urgently needs a security and strategic figure of the stature of Major General (res.) Uzi Dayan to strengthen the list and provide it with professional depth. Reserving a spot for Dayan is necessary to fill the security void in the list and ensure Likud's victory.

Ahead of the Likud primaries, I considered who is the person who will add value to the Likud list. Value in two aspects: the substantive and qualitative, alongside the aspect of media attractiveness. This is to bridge the gaps that exist in the Likud list in the eyes of a certain population, in order to win the elections.

In one sentence, Major General (res.) Uzi Dayan is very much needed by Likud in the upcoming elections. Uzi's uniqueness is the combination of security, strategic, economic, ideological, and social experience. He has the ability to influence the quality of execution of national tasks through persuasion based on value-based, ideological, and professional arguments. Uzi has a comprehensive, strategic, and executive vision on most issues at the national level.

What gave Uzi Dayan these proven capabilities is his diverse executive and conceptual background. First, Major General (res.) Dayan has exceptional security experience. He was Deputy Chief of Staff, Head of the National Security Council, and Commander of the Central Command—a complex command in many current aspects. He performed these senior positions after acquiring vast experience in the field, starting with commanding the Sayeret Matkal and the 401st Armored Brigade.

Dayan has an exceptional analytical background. He holds a degree in mathematics and physics, and a master's degree in operations research. His studies and experience helped him add nuance and value to decision-making processes of strategic systems, not necessarily only security-related. Finally, Dayan also excelled in performing state roles, including an impressive tenure as Chairman of Mifal HaPayis, the Sderot Conference, and Chairman of the National Commanders Forum.

Some say that Uzi's main asset for Likud is operational experience, analytical capabilities, and integration into the political echelon. Within the framework of the Knesset elections, Uzi will be able to address many populations because of his good familiarity with the field in which he operated, as well as populations that Likud did not succeed in recruiting in the past.

In summary, Likud needs Uzi Dayan the man. It is important to emphasize that after the primaries, in which Dayan was not elected to a realistic spot, there is a substantive lack in the list—since there is currently no experienced security figure of the stature of the former Deputy Chief of Staff and Head of the NSC, and therefore he is worthy and should receive a reserved spot.

Oded Tira, former President of the Manufacturers Association.