Moshe Feiglin: 5 Facts You Might Not Have Known About the Israeli Politician
For which rare clause was he convicted, why did Britain refuse him entry, which autobiographical book did he write, and what is his connection to cannabis? On the occasion of the 64th birthday of Zehut party chairman Moshe Feiglin, here are 5 facts you might not have known about him.
Moshe Feiglin celebrates his 64th birthday. Throughout decades of public activity, Feiglin has stood out as an unconventional figure in the Israeli landscape — one who manages to combine a right-wing religious worldview with sharp libertarianism and a demand for individual liberty. On the occasion of his birthday, we have collected five verified facts about his path and work:
Officer in the Combat Engineering Corps
Before entering the public consciousness, Feiglin performed long and active military service. He served as an officer in the Combat Engineering Corps, reached the rank of captain, and fought during the First Lebanon War.
Conviction for "Sedition"
In 1993, following the signing of the Oslo Accords, Feiglin, together with Shmuel Sackett, founded the "Zo Artzeinu" ("This is our land") movement, which led a wave of protests and acts of non-violent civil disobedience, such as widespread road blockades. Following these protests, Feiglin was put on trial, and in 1997 he was convicted under a rare clause in the Israeli penal code — sedition. He was sentenced to six months in prison, which was commuted to community service.
Officially Denied Entry to the UK
In 2008, while serving as head of the "Manhigut Yehudit" ("Jewish Leadership") faction in the Likud, Feiglin received an official letter from the then-British Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, informing him that his entry into the United Kingdom was prohibited. The unusual reasoning was that his presence was not conducive to the "public good" due to his statements, making him one of the few Israeli politicians to have an official entry ban imposed by the UK.
Author of "Where There Are No People"
Alongside his political work, Feiglin is a prolific publicist who has authored several books detailing his thoughts and his political and Jewish worldview. Among his notable books are "Where There Are No People" (his autobiographical-ideological book published in the late 90s dealing with the "Zo Artzeinu" period), as well as "The End of the Democratic State" and "The Orange Time".
Changing the Public Discourse on Cannabis
When he founded the "Zehut" ("Identity") party in 2015, Feiglin surprised many by placing the issue of full legalization of cannabis as one of the party's core banners. The unique combination of national Jewish identity with individual liberty and free-market economics became his trademark, bringing the issue of legalization to the heart of the political discourse in Israel.
