Edelstein on the 'reservations' in Likud: 'Throwing mud and garbage at each other, disgusting'

MK Yuli Edelstein, from the Unity party led by Gilad Erdan, sharply attacked on Wednesday what is happening in Likud ahead of the primaries, and first and foremost the struggles surrounding the reservations in the list. In an interview with Gadi Ness on Radio Tzafon 104.5FM, Edelstein also addressed the criticism leveled against him by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, the draft law, and the new party he established together with Erdan.

'I will say the most obvious and simple answer — it is disgusting to see what is happening there with the reservations, alongside the battles, all of it,' said Edelstein. 'I am still receiving messages from candidates, with the mud and garbage they are throwing at each other — all this at a time when we need something completely different.'

Edelstein, who served for years as a Likud member and even reached the top of the party's primaries, added: 'I was in both the first and second place, and I had all kinds of successes in the Likud primaries. I know the movement, I love its activists and voters, but to see what is going on today? When was there such a thing that they throw reservations to reserve figures of the first rank — and in the end it closes with reserving the chairman of the movement and a minister from the movement?'

According to him, his criticism does not stem from concern for the personal fate of the candidates. 'It hurts me for the people of Israel, it does not hurt me for these people, where everyone there shows muscles and that he is strong. All those who come out against the reservations — if Bibi had called them at two in the morning and offered a reservation, they would have kissed his hands.'

He further added: 'It breaks my heart that in this period, with all our challenges and what the people need, this is what we hear in the news.'

When asked about the possibility that Yair Netanyahu would also be reserved in the Likud list, he replied: 'Logic says that I hope not, but with everything you see in the recent period, I don't know what to answer.' According to him, 'I wish the Prime Minister would invest his energy in the country he is currently heading, and not in nonsense in the Likud list.'

'Stories can be told to someone else and not to me'

Edelstein also addressed the words of Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, who accused him of harming the promotion of the draft law during the period he headed the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee.

'I didn't know what Minister Karhi would say, and I started our conversation with words that I am not interested. I don't care what people say,' he said. 'It's not just values, we agree on them and it is a duty and a right. But those who really harmed the security of the country — and you heard the Chief of Staff and the Head of the Manpower Directorate that we are immediately missing 12,000 soldiers — were those who torpedoed any attempt to legislate a real draft law.'

Edelstein added: 'Stories can be told to someone else and not to me, who more than any other person in the country knows what was in the closed rooms, including in Netanyahu's office.'

According to him, 'When I hear that Netanyahu said he would take a 20 kg club so that they would be drafted — I remember who had the club in our night meetings with the Haredi activists, including in his office.'

Edelstein clarified that as far as he is concerned, the draft law will be one of the central issues of his party: 'When a government of the majority of the people is established, there will be a real draft law.'

'If we are so small — why all the hysteria?'

Later, Edelstein addressed the Unity party he established with Gilad Erdan and the claims heard against them from both sides of the political map.

'We are apparently in a good place because they believe us from both sides,' he said. 'On one hand, in the change bloc, every five minutes messages or videos come out accusing us of being Netanyahu's proxy. On the other hand, Netanyahu's office and Likud also issue messages, including official ones, that we are fake right-wingers and spies for the change bloc.'

According to him, the attacks from both sides actually testify to the fact that the message of the new party has been received. 'I am happy that apparently my word and Gilad's are still worth something in the political system. When we say that we will not join either side in a narrow government — they believe us.'

Edelstein emphasized that he is not interested in a multitude of small parties. 'I am also not happy to see fragments of parties, and as they know me, I held talks with people to look for a common denominator and go together.'

According to him, the Unity party seeks to position itself outside the existing division between the blocs. 'When you look at the map of what are called parties that do not belong to the bloc, I see only our party that does not belong. If I hear statements from other parties — these say that a Zionist government is better but they will join the change bloc, and those say they will enter only a fully right-wing government.'

'Only we are going onto the field,' he added. 'And if we are so small, unimportant and will not pass the electoral threshold — then why all the hysteria from both sides?'

'A government of half the people will not be able to meet the challenges'

Edelstein was also asked about the possibility of additional political connections ahead of the closing of the lists, and clarified that as far as he is concerned, the options are still open.

'I don't rule out anything, we don't oppose anything. But at the moment we haven't said not only the last word — we haven't even said the first,' he said. 'We now have a few weeks to submit the lists and present our campaign and principles, and we are sure there will be an appropriate response from the public.'

According to him, his political experience taught him not to be impressed by offers for positions or election eve promises. 'I was in all the situations where they hug you and promise you, and Gilad was too. There is no one wiser than the experienced, and therefore I repeat and say that it is not important.'

Edelstein clarified that even an offer to head a narrow government will not change his position: 'Even if they come and say "Edelstein, with all your experience", or if they come to Gilad with the same and offer to head a narrow government and lead Israel — I tell you that there is no feasibility that a government of half the people will be able to meet the challenges that the State of Israel faces. Only a broad government will be able to.'