Chikli: "Bennett offered me an ambassadorship just to get me out of the Knesset"

The Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism, Amichai Chikli, harshly attacked former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and former Knesset member Ayelet Shaked last night (Sunday) during a political conference of the Likud movement held in Petah Tikva. In his remarks, Chikli outlined the complex relationship between him and the heads of his former faction during the formation of the "government of change," and warned against the consequences of small parties running in the right-wing camp.

Chikli, who first entered the Knesset on the "Yamina" list and resigned from it against the backdrop of the decision to form a government with the center-left factions and the United Arab List, revealed new details from behind the scenes of the formation of the "government of change," which he opposed:

"Bennett offered me to be an ambassador; he told me: 'Be the head of the Jewish Agency, take any position you want — just get out of the Knesset for me'."

In his remarks, Chikli also referred to the political experience of his former party leaders and their chances in future election cycles, while taking a jab at their media popularity. "I started in 'The New Right' and then in 'Yamina'. There were 'celebrity' ministers there — Bennett after a term in the Ministry of Education, Shaked after the Ministry of Justice. Even though they were 'celebrities', they did not pass the electoral threshold," he clarified.

Later, he referred to the next election cycle and presented a firm line against small factions running separately in the right-wing bloc, for fear of losing mandates for the national camp. "One of the biggest dangers to our camp is the small parties, some of which have a very big ego," the minister concluded. "My message to them is sharp and clear: let's unite — or step aside."