"Let us finish the job": Messages from senior Likud members

Senior Likud members addressed a range of security and political issues this morning (Monday) against the backdrop of the party's primaries. Gila Gamliel, Eli Cohen, and Amit Halevi spoke about the continuation of the fighting in Gaza, the Iranian threat, the conscription of the ultra-Orthodox, Hezbollah, and the changes they say are needed in the security establishment.

Minister of Innovation Gila Gamliel said in an interview on the "Israel Today" program with Oded Menashe that those who do not study should be drafted, adding:

"We need ultra-Orthodox combat soldiers in the army and they will be there."

At the same time, she addressed the "Force 100" affair, opposed a plea bargain with the Military Advocate General, and called for a "thorough root canal treatment." Regarding the war in Gaza, she said: "We are eliminating terrorists every day, let us finish the job," and regarding Iran, she clarified that Israel will not allow it to reach nuclear weapons "even if we are alone."

Minister of Energy Eli Cohen also addressed Iran and said that if Tehran renews its nuclear program, Israel will act against it even without an agreement with the USA. "We have proven that if Iran renews the program, we will reach every place and every person," he said. Regarding Lebanon, he argued that a multinational force must be brought in to act to disarm Hezbollah, and added: "If necessary, we will do the work ourselves."

Cohen also addressed the political system and attacked the connection between elements in the opposition and Ra'am. According to him, this is an "attempt by the Left to whitewash the Islamic Movement" ahead of the formation of a future government. He added that the upcoming elections will also be significant for the continuation of the judicial reform.

MK Amit Halevi, who was interviewed by Dana Varon on the "Morning Edition" program, focused on the conduct of the security establishment. According to him, he met this week with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the subject of open-fire regulations and argued that the existing guidelines still endanger soldiers. "We must have a change in the security establishment and in the legal concept," he said.

Halevi also addressed the existence of the primaries in Likud, and argued that unlike most parties in Israel, where lists are determined without primaries, in Likud a large part of the list is elected directly by the members. According to him, alongside this, there is room to allow the Prime Minister a number of reserved spots to strengthen the list.

Halevi added that Israel is currently in a more offensive position compared to the eve of the war. "We are today in dominant positions and not dominated," he said, and called for setting the goal of eliminating the control of Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Iranian regime. According to him, the change has already begun, but time is still needed to complete it.