"I didn't think about Ben Gvir": The deputy minister who joined Likud celebrates success
Deputy Minister Almog Cohen, who secured the eighth spot in the Likud primaries, was interviewed on "Five in the Evening" on 103fm, shared his feelings following the achievement, addressed Benjamin Netanyahu's support, and presented his views regarding the conscription of ultra-Orthodox and his political aspirations.
The Likud primaries are behind us, and this Tuesday evening, Deputy Minister Almog Cohen, who secured the 8th spot on the list, was interviewed on 103fm radio. He spoke with Roni Bar-On and Ron Kofman and shared his feelings following the impressive personal achievement.
At the beginning of the interview, he said:
"The Prime Minister, of course, had my back, released a support video with me, and helped me as much as possible, and I received broad support. I worked hard for four years and paid prices. Likud voters rewarded me for my work over the last four years. It warms the heart. But I am just a public servant, feet on the ground."
Later, he shared a message of support he received: "When I saw the number, I received a message from S., a fighter who was with me in the unit. He wrote to me: 'Almog, I am happy to see what was published, it was worth taking the bullets that morning (of October 7th).' He wrote that to me, and my breath was taken away." He added: "And I didn't think too much about Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, whom I respect."
"The truth is that I started the morning there, because friends come to you all the time in dreams and you cannot escape it," he said. "Every time you leave and enter the house, it doesn't happen often, but you have to pass through there. I felt I had to receive the blessing of my brothers who are not with us." According to Almog Cohen, he relates to IDF soldiers with sacred awe, because they are the bedrock of the Jewish people's existence. He pointed to the 'Hashmonaim' Brigade as an example of progress that did not exist before this government.
When asked if the ultra-Orthodox 'Hashmonaim' Brigade is the most expensive brigade in the IDF, the deputy minister replied:
"Are you complaining already? You want a division, two or three divisions. I was never prevented from keeping religious commandments, therefore I called and I call on everyone who does not study Torah to enlist, there is no question at all. There is a problem because it is hard to confuse me, why? Because I do not feed on the media."
On the question of conscription to the IDF, he said: "In the end, when I want to know how many fighters can be recruited, I call friends in the Manpower Directorate (AKA). If I want to know about problems in any battalion in Golani, I call the guys who are in command there and are my friends. I live in the field and say that in the end, we will recruit those who do not study Torah, and we are talking about tens of thousands," he elaborated.
He concluded the interview with the following remarks: "I want to be in a position that will influence my people and my homeland, just as I brought, for example, the protection racket law. In addition, among the Arab citizens of the State of Israel, there are many good ones, Zionists and patriots, but estimates say that there are currently about 190,000 weapons there."
