Amsalem Sparks Commotion in Likud: "His Place Is in the Opposition"
David Amsalem's remarks favoring the inclusion of Gadi Eisenkot into the Likud have ignited a sharp confrontation on the right: Avi Dichter offered support, Tali Gottlieb attacked, and Itamar Ben Gvir used the opportunity to send a message to Benjamin Netanyahu.
A storm has erupted within the Likud following a statement by Minister of Regional Cooperation David Amsalem on 103fm radio, in which he expressed that he would be happy if the chairman of the Yashar! party, Gadi Eisenkot, joined the Likud.
MK Tali Gottlieb responded sharply, telling Maariv:
"Gadi Eisenkot is a clear leftist who turned the army into a 'small and smart' one while he was Chief of Staff. Eisenkot is captive to the concept of deterring our enemies with financial bribes and will go hand in hand with the supporters of terror in the Knesset to establish a Palestinian state, God forbid. Eisenkot's place is on the opposition benches."
In contrast, Minister Avi Dichter defended the statement in an interview with Radio Tzafon:
"David is a man whose heart is on his sleeve. He is always looking for common ground. When he says this about Eisenkot, I translate it as follows: we will form a coalition with any Zionist party. And if Gadi wants to join us, we will be very happy."
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir also weighed in:
"The things said this morning by Minister David Amsalem illustrate exactly the real fear ahead of the upcoming elections: that there are still elements in the Likud who live in the old concept and continue to think that Gadi Eisenkot is a legitimate candidate for a unity government or for a 'broad Zionist government' as they imagine it."
Ben Gvir continued:
"I am sorry to shatter the illusion for Amsalem, but Gadi Eisenkot is a clear leftist. I sat with him in the cabinet rooms and heard him with my own ears. He will prefer to form a government with Yair Golan and Mansour Abbas long before he sits with Amsalem and his partners. It is time to sober up. Wake up."
MK Nissim Vaturi attempted to calm the spirits, telling Maariv:
"This is the time for unity in the people of Israel! Whoever follows the path of the right and the path of the Likud while supporting the leadership of Netanyahu will join. Whoever harmed IDF soldiers and our very existence has no part in the people of Israel."
