Higher Education Minister Likud Ze’ev Elkin announced on Tuesday that he is leaving his party to join Gideon Sa’ar’s “New Hope” party for the March elections, calling Prime Minister Netanyahu exit.
“You have destroyed the Likud,” Elkin, who has been a close friend of the prime minister, added to his Knesset post Thursday.
Higher Education Minister Ze’ev Elkin announces he is leaving Likud to join Gideon Sa’ar’s New Hope party ahead of next elections
(Photo: Al Ymama)
In response to Elkin’s comments, Sa’ar called him an integrity man and said he would be his second in the new party.
Elkin said he was making the move with a heavy heart but confident that this was the right and responsible thing to do.
Speaking in his words directly to Netanyahu, Elkin said the Likud had grown into a culture of personality, a Byzantine court with people approaching the leader out of fear.
“Your whims and those close to you have overwhelmed the decision-making process with urgent ramifications for the country and its citizens,” Elkin said.
Ze’ev Elkin speaks to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Knesset in 2016
(Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)
“As someone who has been monitoring this from nearby, I am increasingly concerned. My trust in you and your intentions has waned as your personal thoughts have come to the fore. the country, “said the minister.
Elkin blamed Netanyahu for taking the country’s burden to the fourth round of elections in two years.
“We are going to make another choice because you want to control who is named as a state prosecutor and go through laws that protect you from the accusation you make of corruption,” he said. .
“I cannot call on the citizens of Israel to vote for you. You, Mr. Prime Minister, have destroyed Likud’s party.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is watching as his attempt to postpone Monday’s budget deadline failed.
(Photo: Reuters)
The Likud issued a statement in response blaming Elkin for playing politics while the prime minister led a national response to the pandemic.
Netanyahu and his cabinet have been meeting for several hours to decide on measures to stop the spread of coronavirus that has been going up at an alarming rate, including decision to impose a third lock.