PM Sharon gave a rare interview to the "Halo" media network, which appeals to the Arab sector, saying its goal is to lead to economic improvement for all Israeli citizens • On relations with Arab countries: "We are revolutionizing Saudi Arabia 'only Bibi'"

• Benjamin Netanyahu, Ayman Odeh // Photo: Mark Israel Salem, Oren Ben Hakun

Addressing the Arab public: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was interviewed on Wednesday by the Arab-Israeli media channel TV, as part of his attempt to appeal to the Arab public in Israel, an attempt first published in "Israel Today". During the interview, Netanyahu emphasized the economic investment he is promoting in the Arab public, his relations with Arab states, and also addressed the century deal.

Netanyahu emphasized in his interview that in his last government, civilian programs to improve infrastructure in NIS 15 billion were transferred, 18 police stations were opened in Arab cities, and the share of the Arab public in higher education institutions doubled.

Netanyahu said he opposes the joint list "not because they are Arabs but because they deny so many things that are vital to the future of the State of Israel," adding that "there are many Israeli Arabs who vote for Likud for a good reason because we really work for everyone."

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Netanyahu also addressed the upcoming elections, saying he would be happy if votes from the Arab public were the ones to bring him the victory. "I see in our polls that we have 34 seats and that the bloc is 58 seats, which means we are missing another 3 for victory. Listen, I would be very happy if I got it from the Arab citizens, you know why? Because I really believe it," he said.

The interview also touched on political issues and relations between Israel and the Arab states, and emphasized the tightening of ties between the parties. "If someone told me 10 years ago that we would end up in a relationship that is getting tighter with all the Arab states, except one or two, basically the whole Muslim world, then people would say I was just talking and daydreaming, but that's what happens today," Netanyahu said.

"Arab countries are enthusiastic about Israeli high-tech"

"I cannot tell you how many times I have visited Arab countries, such as Amman and Uganda, and met with Sudanese president who are open visits," Netanyahu said, adding, "Believe me there are many more, and this is only getting worse, not only because of our shared threat that he is Iran. "Also because of the Arab countries' enthusiasm for Israeli technology, Israeli agriculture, water, cyber, high-tech, huge interest and huge potential. The living bridge of this partnership is in the eyes of Israeli Arabs who can integrate here amazingly, even with entrepreneurship, even with success."

"There are bloggers in Saudi Arabia who say 'only Bibi and only the Likud' and this is all over the Arab world," Netanyahu continued, describing the tightening ties with Arab countries. "We measure online, in Arab companies, we do surveys and ask 'Is your country worthy of making contacts with Israel?' Once it was zero percent, even minus, today we see 30%, 40%, 50%, and it is rising that reflects this revolution that I am leading and I am very proud of it, "he continued.

Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Netanyahu disapproved of the idea of ​​moving the triangle under the Centennial Plan, calling it a spin. "This is an empty balloon from the air," said Netanyahu. "The last thing I believe will happen is that someone will be uprooted, no one will be displaced, there is no such thing in the Centennial Plan, there is a marginal statement that has no meaning in the Centennial Plan that requires full consent from all parties. They are trying to inflate it to get the people to vote for the common people who did nothing for the Arabs of Israel and who will not vote for me and the Likud, "the prime minister said at the end of the interview.