After reports of Netanyahu's ouster: Barkat goes on the offensive – "An assassination attempt"
The Minister of Economy rejected the reports of a move against the Prime Minister, declared that he supports Netanyahu and will respect the decisions of the Likud. Ahead of the primaries, he added: "The next big issue is to dismantle the PA."
Minister of Economy Nir Barkat (Likud) spoke with Gadi Ness on Radio Tzafon 104.5fm about the elections, the Likud primaries, and the Prime Minister's reserved spots in the party. Also discussed were the reports allegedly directed by Minister Nir Barkat against Netanyahu.
"For the last 24 years, I have been working for a shekel a year, I don't want anything from the state, I fly at my own expense even in the line of duty, I don't want anything and I am here only to give. I served in the paratroopers and was an officer and I took a bullet in Lebanon in August '80, and despite that, I returned and was a company commander in the First Lebanon War, and that is how I was raised at home."
He further added: "I had the great privilege of being the mayor of Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, for ten years. I took all this experience and transferred it to the national level. This is what drives me, and it is clear that there is an assassination attempt here by 'Channel 12'. He also noted: "About a year ago, when I saw what they did to Force 100 when they disbanded them, that I take pictures with soldiers and officers, they ask to blur their faces so they can fly abroad. At the beginning of the war, I had a disagreement, I strongly opposed bringing Palestinian workers to work in Israel, Minister of Defense Israel Katz and former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar did not let me bring foreign workers, I had a struggle to bring foreign workers, but today we are in a different place."
"The head of the movement Netanyahu together with the institutions decided what they decided, I respect it."
"Ministers in the Likud, if they have an opinion, should fight for it, even if there is a disagreement and it is legitimate, everything else is a lie, I denied it then and I deny it today as well," he added. "We will welcome everyone who comes with a profile like mine, with business knowledge and international understanding, this is a language that needs to be learned, but I welcome everyone who comes to us. When I bring ideas, and if more entrepreneurs like me come, it is a blessing for the Likud."
"At the moment there is a Prime Minister and I support him. I am on a long journey with PM Netanyahu. I supported him even when I was not appointed Minister of Finance - now we need to understand how to win the elections. Tomorrow it will end and we will have the support of the public," said Barkat. "I want the support of the Likudniks because I have something to contribute, we are all one person and we want to win our fateful elections in October - they are not in our pocket and we need to work hard for them."
"Everything that the PM and the institutions decide I will gladly respect - there is no such discussion in other parties."
According to him regarding the reserved spots, "We are a democratic party and there are primaries in it, and the head of the movement Netanyahu together with the institutions decided what they decided, I respect the decision. Everything that the PM and the Likud institutions decide I will gladly respect - there is no such discussion in other parties. Did you hear anything about Eizenkot's list? It doesn't interest anyone, anything about Bennett or Lieberman? It's a dictatorship of one person who decides."
"You will see tomorrow that a large majority will come to vote and influence. The Likudniks, through the primaries, have the opportunity to influence. And the wisdom of the masses, and the Likud voters are smart people who understand when there is an assassination attempt here and understand well what is happening - so we will see the result," he clarified on his part. "We will see that they will vote and shape the list - and I am proud to be in such a party. The Likud is a home, I have no doubt that not only will we achieve great results in the primaries, but we will also stand as one body in the elections."
On the progress on the various fronts: "We are not finished because there is work in Lebanon, Gaza, and Iran. The next big issue is to dismantle the PA and to this I am committed. I will put on the PM's desk how to dismantle the Palestinian Authority and go to the model of Dr. Moti Kedar. There is a huge window of opportunity here to go for it, in order to bury the idea of a Palestinian state," he said in conclusion.
