Israel Matzav

Idiot: Netanyahu happy to go into coalition with parties on Left, still thinks his battle is with the Right

Remarks made by Prime Minister Netanyahu in an interview with Channel 2 on Saturday are likely to drive even more voters into Naftali Bennett's waiting arms. Netanyahu express a willingness to go into a coalition with Center-Left parties, while warning voters not to abandon the Likud for more Right wing parties. To the voters that says that Netanyahu wants to go into a coalition with Left and so he is appealing to Center-Left voters to 'save him' from a coalition with the Right.

Speaking in excerpts of an interview with Channel 2 released Saturday, the full version of which was scheduled to be broadcast on Monday, Netanyahu stated, "Whoever wants to join a coalition based on my principles is welcome. In the meantime they are the ones that are rejecting me."

Netanyahu's comments came in response to efforts by Labor leader Shelly Yacimovich and Tzipi Livni to form an “obstructing bloc” to stop the prime minister from being reelected.
Livni called for Yacimovich and Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid to form a “united front” toward victory over the Likud-Yisrael Beytenu joint list, speaking to Channel 2 News on Friday, two days after Yacimovich put herself at the fore of the Center-Left bloc by saying she would rather be opposition leader than join a Netanyahu coalition.

Netanyahu told Channel 2 that he would accept Livni, Lapid and Yacimovich in his coalition, even as ministers, but only on the condition that they "go in my diplomatic and economic direction, which I believe is responsible and has proven itself."

The prime minister said that Livni could be a minister in his government, "but I will lead policy on the issues of the Palestinians and security."

As for Yacimovich, Netanyahu stated that she could serve as a minister in his government as well, but he chuckled at the suggestion that he would give her the finance minister portfolio. "For the good of the Israeli economy, I should continue with the responsible and successful policy I've implemented thus far."

The prime minister addressed what has been described as the radicalization of the Likud, saying that "there are various opinions in the Likud, but the main direction will be led by me. Whoever wants to join the coalition is welcome."

Netanyahu stated that if he is chosen to lead the next government his top priorities will be "handling the housing issue, changing the electoral system and equalizing the service burden."

A new poll released on Friday showed that the Likud-Beiteinu ticket continues in freefall, reaching a new low of 32 seats, while Bennett's Jewish Home and Michael Ben Ari's Otzma l'Yisrael (Strength for Israel) continue to rise.

Netanyahu still doesn't get it. The country doesn't want the Left and by continuing to try to place himself in the Center with Leftist partners, he is hurting the Likud. Everything he has done in this election cycle, starting with the joint list with Yisrael Beiteinu has damaged the Likud politically. It's almost like he wants to lose.

Labels: Binyamin Netanyahu, Jewish Home party, Knesset elections 2013, Likud party, Michael Ben Ari, Naftali Bennett, Otzma l'Yisrael party, Shelly Yacimovich, Tzipi Livni, Yisrael Beiteinu

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:29 AM