Netanyahu Warns of ‘Unprecedented Emergency’ if Gantz Forms Government Backed by Arab Party
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Saturday against the possibility that Benny Gantz will establish a minority government, which Netanyahu says will be backed by Arab lawmakers. “We are facing an emergency that is unprecedented in the history of the State of Israel,” he said.
“There is an agreement among Kahol Lavan [leaders] to go for a minority government with the Joint List. We know for a fact that they made this decision,” the prime minister claimed in an emergency meeting he held with Likud lawmakers.
“[Going for another] election is a disaster, but setting up a government that depends on the Arab parties is an even bigger disaster. It’s a historic danger to Israel’s security. It will gravely hurt the security of Israel,” the premier continued.
Netanyahu also told ministers from his party that such a government “will rely on supporters of Islamic Jihad and Hamas,” taking a jab at Israeli Arab lawmakers. “[Yisrael Beiteinu’s Avigdor] Lieberman … has made a deal with them. None of them is denying it. We can’t let that happen,” he added.
