Ahead of the dissolution of the Knesset: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a special statement this evening (Tuesday). Netanyahu attacked Blue and White chairman Bnei Gantz, claimed that Blue and White had withdrawn from the agreements reached, and placed on its heads the responsibility for a fourth election campaign within two years.
Netanyahu: “Ganz folds against Nissenkorn, which imposes a dictatorship of officials” // From Benjamin Netanyahu’s Facebook page
In his opening remarks, Netanyahu referred to the historic flight of an Israeli-American delegation to Morocco, to the Avraham agreements, and to the vaccination campaign. “This is a historic day, “said the Prime Minister.” We have been changing history in recent months. Only today did an Israir flight depart for Morocco with an Israeli-American delegation, andTogether with senior officials from the Ministry of Health, I spoke with the CEOs of the major vaccine companies, following which Israel may be among the first countries to emerge from the corona crisis.
“In addition, we talked about the danger of the mutation. The good news – they are very optimistic that the vaccines will be effective against it and it may reach 95% effectiveness, but it will take a few more days to know that. This is news for humanity and Israel.
“It’s no secret, I did not want elections. We voted time and time again against the elections, including last night, and unfortunately Gantz withdrew from the agreements between us and he is dragging Israel to the elections because of internal struggles. He is dragging Israel into the elections because of insisting on keeping Nissenkorn in office. Let that happen, it’s a wrong decision by blue and white, but if they force elections on me, I promise you we’ll win.
“Most Israeli citizens see our leadership and results. We bring peace agreements and make our economy one of the strongest in the world. I know there are difficulties, but we will bring more aid programs, and I hope Blue and White will not thwart our aid programs in the last phase of the Corona War.
“The clear decision of the election – a left-wing government with a torch or a right-wing government is strong. I can say for sure and it is not about discretion for any of the politicians. These are the only way they will have an alliance with the torch and the left. Another way to form a government without joining the torch and the left. The only way to bring a right-wing government to full is to promise only to the Likud. I will continue to work for you, the citizens of Israel – security, peace agreements, vaccinations. “
Three blue and white members showed up – the offer fell through
The vote came yesterday after a budget was not agreed between the Likud and Blue and White for months, after last night three of its members, Knesset members Assaf Zamir, Miki Haimovich and Ram Shefa, opposed the bill, which would give a one-week extension to the budget deadline, and other party members did not vote.
The Prime Minister also spoke about his conversation with a senior member of the vaccine companies, who informed him that Pfizer’s vaccine for Corona was effective against the new mutation discovered in the UK. Afterwards, the leader of the opposition, MK Yair Lapid, took the floor and responded: “Who do you work for, you are not interested in the mutation – you are only interested in the rotation.”
The rejection of the bill by a majority of 49 opponents in front of 47 supporters came due to the opposition of MKs Makhol Laban and Likud MK Michal Shir, who is close to Gideon Saar. The right and Derech Eretz factions joined the opposition. MK Shir announced after the vote that she had joined the “New Hope” party led by Saar and that she intended to resign from the Knesset.