Barkat denies: "I did not try to oust Netanyahu. I committed in the past - I commit today"

Minister of Economy Nir Barkat strongly rejects the reports that he was involved in an attempt to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the days following October 7. In an interview with Walla, against the backdrop of recent reports on the subject, Barkat denies the claims and presents them as part of an attempt to harm him ahead of the Likud primaries.

"We are in the primaries, and I am undergoing a major attack by Channel 12. They undoubtedly see me as the biggest threat they have, certainly from the coalition side and from us, from me. Bottom line, they want to harm me, that is unequivocal. In addition to harming me and trying to eliminate me, they want to create chaos and division within the Likud."

Barkat claims that the current reports are a recycling of claims that were already denied in the past. "They took and are recycling absolute fake news that was three years ago, which I denied then, and nothing has happened since. Of course, there will be a denial again. We will not let them beat us."

However, the reports regarding Barkat did not appear only on Channel 12 news. Other media outlets also dealt with the claims, among other things after MK Dan Illouz said in an interview with ynet that about a third of the Likud faction members prepared in the days after October 7 for the possibility of replacing Netanyahu.

When we pointed out to Barkat that Channel 14 also dealt with the subject, he replied: "First of all, it's not Channel 14. It's about some frustrated Likud activist from Jerusalem who is looking for a stage. In the end, this is the stage that decided to give resonance to these things. Maybe there are all sorts of other factors that want to, but ultimately everyone in the world has a little opposition."

According to him, "The bottom line is that the goal and the big message come from Channel 12. There is a timed system here that is trying to harm, and they will not succeed. They are trying and will not succeed, because the Likudniks understand what their goal is: they want to harm me and the Likud."

"I denied strongly, and since then there is no change"

We asked Barkat about the meeting he held with Netanyahu following the reports. According to him, he clarified to the Prime Minister that the claims against him are not true. "I told him - he asked me, and I told him that it is fake, that it is not true. I denied strongly, and since then there is no change. I denied and I deny strongly," he said.

Barkat was asked if Netanyahu continued to be in contact with him after the things. "Of course. What kind of question is that? I am a minister under him. Government meetings, of course. What kind of question is that?" Barkat replied. According to him, the last conversation between them took place "a week or two ago, I think."

One of the main tests for Barkat's denial is the question of the lawsuit. Amit Segal wrote that if Barkat denies the things, "the minimum required is a huge libel lawsuit tomorrow morning." We asked Barkat if he intends to do so. "I understand that Channel 12 is giving me advice on how to sue them. I will consider my steps, and we will do what is most correct in order to pin them down, so that they don't bother us too much at all," he replied.

Barkat was also asked about the fund he established for lawsuits against Channel 12 news and about the fact that a lawsuit in this case might be an expected step from his point of view. "I thank the friends for the good advice they give me in order to, as they say, fight Channel 12. Thank you very much. I will do what I believe is right to do to ensure that they cannot harm - not me, not the Likud, not the Prime Minister and not Force 100," he said.

"I will not be on a polygraph"

We asked Barkat if, at our expense, he would be willing to undergo a polygraph test and answer unequivocally the question of whether he tried to oust Netanyahu. "Tell me, are you serious? What kind of question is that? I have never been in my life, don't need to, and will not be on a polygraph. I say what is on my mind, and everyone knows that I am an honest person and tell the truth. My mouth and my heart are equal - that's how it has been all my life, and that's why they give me so much credit."

We also asked him who, in his opinion, is behind the attempt to harm him from within the Likud. "I have no idea and it doesn't interest me. It could be yes, it could be no - it's not interesting. The main motivation here is Channel 12. They put the resources, they did the fabricated investigations, they are the ones trying to harm."

According to Barkat, "I received hints in recent weeks that they are looking to eliminate me, and we knew something would come - we didn't know exactly what. Because they are looking under the floorboards, and it's hard for them to find, because they know that I am a clean and honest person and it is impossible to bribe me." "I work 24 years for a shekel a year, fly at my own expense abroad, don't need anything from anyone - and it drives them crazy," he added.

"I committed in the past, I commit today"

Despite the reports, Barkat estimates that they will not have a significant impact on his status in the Likud primaries. "I have no doubt that they will not succeed," he said. "The Likudniks understand that I am leading a move against Channel 12. They understand how important it is to beat them, they understand why we must not lose to them."

Barkat was asked where he estimates he will finish in the primaries, but refrained from betting on a specific position: "I am putting myself up for election, to the wisdom of the Likud voters. I trusted them in the past, I trust them today and will trust them in the future. I will get the votes that I deserve and say thank you."

Towards the end of the interview, we asked Barkat if, in the event that Netanyahu manages to form another government, he estimates that he will be appointed minister again. "With God's help, I hope so. I estimate so," he replied. We also asked him if he commits that he will not try to replace Netanyahu other than in the framework of competing against him in the elections. "Unequivocally. I committed in the past, I commit today," said Barkat.

Barkat also addressed the claims that he failed to keep his promises in the field of cost of living. According to him, the reform "what is good for Europe is good for Israel" is already bringing about a decrease in prices. "In the field of standardization products there is a decrease of about 7% since January 2025. For decades there was only an increase, and you see a decrease in the field of standardization. In some of the products there are electrical products 20%, 30%, 40% cheaper."

He also pointed to the competition in the retail chains and to Carrefour, which according to him sells some of the products 30% to 50% less than other chains. According to him, the reform increased the number of importers and increased competition. Barkat also addressed the Israeli export and the replacement of Palestinian workers with foreign workers.

According to him, 24 thousand Palestinians used to work in his ministry, and today there are 55 thousand workers from peace countries instead. "In short, bottom line - in every field I am responsible for I have achievements. Thanks to my ministry. Very, very significant achievements, and I am proud of that."