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Eizenkot cancels Likud talks after Netanyahu's 'inciting' Knesset speech
Yashar leader Gadi Eizenkot, tasked with forming Israel's government, ordered the cancellation of a scheduled negotiating meeting with Likud in response to Netanyahu's speech at the opening of the Knesset. The Joint Arab List called the speech “madness and racism,” saying Netanyahu was in a state of “complete hysteria.”
Yashar leader Gadi Eizenkot, who has been tasked with forming Israel's government, ordered the cancellation of a negotiating meeting scheduled for Wednesday between his party and Likud, led by interim Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The decision came over what he described as the interim prime minister's “divisive speech” at the opening of the Knesset's new session.
The party said in a statement that Netanyahu had directed harsh words at Israeli citizens and did not want unity, adding: “When he has to choose, Netanyahu will always choose his personal interest, whatever the cost.” Eizenkot described the speech, according to The Times of Israel, as “delusional, divisive, hateful and shameful,” saying Netanyahu was “not fit to remain in office for even one minute.”
Netanyahu attacks Arab parties
In his speech after the 26 Knesset members were sworn in, Netanyahu called for the formation of a “national unity government,” but attacked the parties representing Arab citizens, asking: “Will you put the fate of our country in the hands of these people? Do you prefer them over the Zionist parties that represent a huge Zionist public?” He described them as “supporters of terrorism and haters of Israel,” saying he did not mean Arabs in general.
Netanyahu said Tuesday evening: “The Romans tried to erase us, and the Nazis tried to exterminate us. Where are they now, and where are we today? We are here, stronger than ever.”
“Complete hysteria”
The Joint Arab List, which represents Palestinians who are citizens of Israel, responded in a written statement: “The prime minister who sheds blood and commits crimes is in a state of complete hysteria. There is no other way to explain the madness, incitement, racism and hatred in his speech today. We will work to fulfill the will of our voters, who want to bring down Netanyahu, the Knesset speaker and their Kahanist government as soon as possible, and cast them into the dustbin of history.”
Manzur Abbas, leader of the United Arab List (Ra'am), also told Israel's Channel 12: “I was surprised that the prime minister used an official occasion to incite against Arab citizens of Israel and fabricate blood libels. There is no doubt about our belonging.”
The Joint List won 11 seats in the October 27 election, while the United Arab List won eight. Both lists supported tasking Eizenkot with forming the government in order to end Netanyahu's rule, without this meaning that they would join the potential coalition. Yashar announced that it had invited all parties committed to the principles it had set out to participate in forming the government.
Photos: Flash 90
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