Democrats chairman Yair Golan warned on Sunday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could lead Israel into another war with Iran to ensure his political survival rather than protect the country's security interests, in an interview with 103FM.
Golan also addressed Thursday's security briefing between Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, expressing confidence that the meeting would not pave the way for a national-unity government.
"I am convinced that Gadi learned the historical lesson from his experience with Benny Gantz. He understands that you cannot do business with Netanyahu. I don't know what the purpose of this meeting was, but I cannot imagine any government headed by Netanyahu, if we're being honest. It seems completely unimaginable to me. I remind you that Netanyahu cannot serve as a minister."
Golan also dismissed the possibility of alternative political arrangements that would allow Netanyahu to remain in government.
"There is no feasible basis for that, and in any case, I ask why we should even discuss this seriously?" he wondered. "All of Netanyahu's partners are responsible for the worst disasters that have befallen Israel over the past four years."
He argued, however, that an alternative coalition was within reach, particularly if the opposition could secure support from Arab parties or bring a haredi (ultra-Orthodox) party into the government.
"If we manage to secure the support of the Arab parties, and certainly if even one haredi party joins the coalition, there is no doubt that we have a stable and solid majority. I remind all our listeners: Netanyahu's bloc received only 53 seats. That is the voters' mandate, and that is what the Israeli electorate wants," he said.
"This will be a super-stable government, and if we manage to chip away further at Netanyahu's bloc, all the better."
Golan urged his political allies to move quickly to form a government, warning that failure to do so could have serious consequences.
"We need to form a government, and quickly. If not, history will judge us for failing to prevent another war when the person conducting it is interested not in Israel's security interests, but solely in his own personal interests."
"First of all, we need to establish a new government, and then decide whether the overriding security interest is to launch a campaign now or not," he explained.
He also questioned Netanyahu's credibility given his previous declarations of military success.
"Someone who took us into two military campaigns and declared a historic victory at the end of them cannot convince us a third time."
Golan went further, accusing Netanyahu of allowing his political survival to influence decisions that could expose Israelis to another round of missile attacks.
"This is simply political survival, and I say this with grave concern and deep anxiety," he said.
Iran retains up to 2,500 missiles as deadly explosion hits near Damascus
The Jerusalem Post's must-listen news roundup with Gadi Zaig - the top stories, clear and concise.
Strock calls for unity government, warns against reliance on Arab parties
Settlement and National Missions Minister Orit Strock called for the establishment of a broad national unity government on Sunday, urging political leaders to abandon their boycotts of one another and warning against forming a government dependent on Arab parties, in an interview with the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) radio station Kol Chai.
Strock also sharply criticized the appointment of Yisrael Beytenu’s Avigdor Liberman as head of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.
"A red line has already been crossed: Liberman, who initiated the Nakba Law, was appointed chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee with the votes of the nationalist Arab parties," Strock said.
"As far as they are concerned, the existence of the state is a catastrophe, and they openly say they will demand payment for every vote. There is no such thing as a minority government. It can only be established with the votes of the nationalist Arab parties in the Knesset. It is a disgrace and a scandal
No comments:
Post a Comment