Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu’s rift with his senior coalition partner, Economy Minister and Habayit Hayehudi chairman Naftali Bennett, over the future of the settlements hit a new high Wednesday. The two have been publicly rowing over policy, a dispute triggered by reports that Netanyahu believes there is no reason for a future Palestinian state to be free of Israeli settlers.
Netanyahu spoke with senior Likud members Wednesday, telling those gathered that he expected Economy Minister Naftali Bennett to apologize for the remarks he made at a security conference earlier in the week, when the economy minister insisted that “Israelis can’t live under Palestinian rule… because the Palestinians would kill them.”
After Bennett’s remarks, Netanyahu stressed that he would fire the minister if he did not apologize. The prime minister noted that the apology would have to be published before the beginning of the next cabinet meeting – Sunday at 10 am.
“Bennett received a clear message. He must clearly and unequivocally apologize, otherwise there will be a price to pay,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in response to Bennett’s comments, adding that “Netanyahu has alternatives; a government without Bennett will continue to work to secure Israel just as it did in the previous government. No one will lecture Netanyahu about patriotism and defending Israel. After all his grievances, it is unclear why Bennett remains stuck to his government seat.”
On Wednesday, the row worsened, with the PMO issuing what seemed to be an ultimatum to Bennett: “His insolent behavior and his reckless style will not pass quietly. This behavior hurts the settlements. If he doesn’t apologize he will threaten the current coalition formation.”
As a result, Bennett issued a statement in which he said: “If the prime minister was hurt, I am definitely saddened by that.”
According to Bennett, “There are sources that are trying to turn a fundamental debate about the future of our country and our safety to a personal attack that wasn’t intended.”
The economy minister emphasized: “I respect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his leadership under complicated conditions. I support him when needed and criticize him as needed; this is my duty.”
Bennett then reiterated the position that initially irritated Netanyahu, saying that “Imposing Palestinian sovereignty on Israeli citizens is dangerous, and it is my obligation to drop this idea from the agenda, and now the idea is gone.”
Sources in Bennett’s inner circle said Wednesday that the dispute between the two has spun out of control, but there is no intention to push the rift to its breaking point.
Uri Ariel, a minister from Habayit Hayehudi, tried Wednesday to mediate between the two sides to calm tensions down. He spoke with senior Likud members, as well as with Bennett and Ayelet Shaked. Ariel warned that this confrontation may get out of hand.
Senior members of the Likud told Ynet that Netanyahu had every intention to fire Bennett.
“Bennett’s biggest mistake was attacking Netanyahu personally, since he could have won points with the Right without creating the crisis in which he was forced to fold,” a source with the Likud said.
Read more at YNET.
{Matzav.com Israel}
Some people are allergic to the truth.
All nonsense. No one is leaving the coalition anytime soon.
the truth just hurts the left-wing Bibi Netanyahu