Zeev Elkin is sure that "New Hope" will be a decisive factor in the formation of the next government, and clarifies: "I will invest everything I know about the Knesset in this" • In an interview with Israel this week, he reveals that joining Saar was not forged • and warns against Netanyahu Himself before the good of the camp
"Any party that was Netanyahu's partner can be our legitimate partner."
Elkin
Photography:
Eric Sultan
Anyone who has met Wolf Elkin in the past year has seen a man in a gray cloud, under a heavy load.
"I was desperate, I lost hope, I considered retiring from political life. I went through a process of severe disillusionment. Netanyahu is a person I admired, blessed with talents and with many rights to whom the state owes a lot. Although he always had a mix between personal and business, 'I am the best prime minister in Israel, so continuing my rule is good for the state, therefore I am the state, therefore what is good for me automatically is good for the state.
"And if the fact that I continue to be prime minister clashes with another national consideration - that's better than another national consideration." That, in my opinion, has taken over his subconscious.
Elkin does not speak in anger or fury.
This week we met a relaxed, almost happy person.
It is evident that he has unloaded a heavy burden and that he is whole with his new way, although its political hope is not at all certain.
"Every beginning commentator knows that it was easiest for me to stay in the Likud. I was in a stable and safe place, in the top ten, in the position of minister. I could continue for another 20 years.
The Likud is accused of traveling between parties.
Forward, then in the Likud, and now with Saar.
"I do not remember bothering them when I collaborated with the Likud as a MK from Kadima, to overthrow the Olmert government and prevent Malvani from forming a government.
Thanks to my actions then, Netanyahu returned to power. "
To understand the power of his words, one must go back to the past, understand who the man is and especially how deep and extensive his ties with Netanyahu were. Elkin, 49, married for the second time and father of five, immigrated from Kharkov, Ukraine in 1990. "I had $ 150 in my pocket, a pregnant woman and no academic degree," he recalled. Even before immigrating to Israel, he became close to Judaism and began public activities. Among other things, he founded the Hebrew Teachers' Association in Kharkov.
When he immigrated, he settled in Gush Etzion. He then began a promising academic career at the Hebrew University and his name preceded him as an analytical mind, a brilliant chess player who in play and in life knows how to predict many moves in advance.
Kadima was the party through which he entered the Knesset in 2006 The right and its opposition to the disengagement.
"I was the head of the immigrants 'headquarters in the Likud functionaries' referendum against the disengagement. I entered the Knesset knowing that my finger would decide the future of Judea and Samaria, as it really was. They did not just call me 'the 13th Likud MK.'
I prevented Tzipi Livni from forming a government. "
In 2009, after already becoming an ally of Netanyahu, Elkin did move to the Likud. He and Saar made Netanyahu one of the most stable governments in Israel in recent decades. He was appointed coalition chairman and recorded a brilliant tenure. Four years old, without a single loss to the opposition.
He was later appointed Deputy Foreign Minister, Minister of Environmental Protection, Minister of Absorption and until last week, Minister of Water and Higher and Complementary Education.
Initiator application.
Saar // Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Suffered Disgrace.
Netanyahu left you for the end of the round until he invented the Ministry of Water for you.
"This is an urban legend. The energy portfolio was promised to me by Netanyahu in the presence of witnesses, but when I called him that night he said: 'Steinitz is going to higher education but he is in crisis because it is important for him to continue the gas. I would be happy if you were generous and creative. Yuval is a smart minister, I appreciate him even though ideologically we disagree many times. I built the combination of the Minister of Water and Higher Education to allow Steinitz to continue to be the Minister of Energy. In retrospect, if I go back to the same junction I will make the same decision.
"The field of water turned out to be fascinating, and among other things, I led the strengthening of Israel's place as a world power in the field of water technology.
In my higher and complementary education, I made a historic decision to elect a representative from Ariel University to LVT, "I increased the assistance to students and many other things. I proved that if you know how to work, you will succeed."
And maybe what motivates you is ego?
Netanyahu did not support you in the Jerusalem municipal elections and you are taking revenge.
"I did not expect Netanyahu to support me. I have known him for many years and know not to expect. Gratitude is not part of his basket of qualities. He does not support independent steps, he is possessive and he also told me then that he prefers me and my advice to him."
It all starts in Balfour
The relationship with Netanyahu was therefore intimate.
Among other things, Elkin has served as an interpreter between the prime minister and Putin in hundreds of phone calls and meetings over the past decade. As someone who played a central role at all political intersections and as someone whose prime minister's door was always open to him, Elkin was aware of his boss's shortcomings.
However, he thought they were within the bounds of reasonableness and that in the end, Netanyahu makes the best decisions for the state.
Only in the last year has he begun to feel that red lines are being crossed.
"There are two things that prevent Netanyahu from making decisions according to what is right for the country: on the one hand, personal considerations, such as now - twice going to the polls, and on the other hand, as I also mentioned in my speech, whims of his environment."
His wife?
"Not only".
His wife and son?
"The immediate vicinity of Balfour, we will put it this way."
that's new?
"The novelty is that once Netanyahu was able to say no to them. There were intersections that I saw that the environment wants A and Netanyahu knows that B. is right. In questions of principle he knew how to detach from background noises. This ability has disappeared in the last year. Maybe this is the legal process. "He is being persecuted and he is willing to hold on to every straw and hallucinatory script that is known to him, for the hope that it will bring him salvation. Maybe it's time for him in power."
When Elkin accuses Netanyahu of preferring his own good over the good of the state, he means the third election campaign that has taken place, and the fourth that is beginning.
According to him, from what he heard from Netanyahu in the two difficult meetings he mentioned in the poignant resignation letter, he has no doubt that Netanyahu deliberately dragged the country into these two systems because of the trial.
"I understand that he is determined to dribble the political move to a game of accusations and a fourth election."
Another example is the non-approval of the state budget.
"Netanyahu once told me that his religion is economics. When he does not approve the state budget, when the State of Israel has been without the Arrangements Law for three years, that is, without economic reforms that Netanyahu knows how important, this is a preference for personal matters."
Further examples of the claim that Netanyahu prefers his own good over the good of the state Elkin does not give.
He said there are some, but he is committed to keeping secrets about state security.
You are saying weighty things here, but why should the reader believe you, if only two days before retirement you are still defending Netanyahu on the broadcast?
"It's like a couple getting divorced. A moment before, whoever looks from the outside is sure that everything is fine, and the couple themselves are also trying to broadcast business as usual. On the one hand, Netanyahu has brought tremendous achievements. He is multi-talented, I admired him all these years But on the other hand the realization that he has turned the right into his hostage. He will never retire. Like the Egyptian pharaohs who take the property with them to the grave, he will take the Likud with him. He thinks it is better to go to trial as prime minister, and if not - then as opposition leader. He is taking the Likud to the grave and will not leave the party leadership even if he loses the election. "
The hand signed and shook
With this heavy frustration Elkin turned around like Ari in a bracket.
He certainly shared his frustrations with Gideon Saar but the two had no early plan for a joint run.
"I saw the headline on television that he was making a statement and intending to form a new party with a Likud activist. When I saw Gideon announcing, I realized that he too was discouraged. I thought about it, and a few days later I received a request from Gideon and we met. ".
After that meeting with Netanyahu, and after learning from Saar that "New Hope" would be a right-wing party and not "Blue and White 2", Elkin made the difficult decision.
Eyewitnesses say that his hand shook when he signed the Knesset resignation documents, since someone like him knows how big the political gamble is.
Like divorce.
Netanyahu // Photo: Amit Shabi
What are you innovating apart from the head?
In the meantime, your most powerful weapon is "just not Bibi."
"What will differentiate us is that we are a center-right, where the consideration that will guide will be a national rather than a personal consideration, as is happening here."
There are always personal considerations.
"The question is what the doses are."
Can Saar bring about peace agreements on the order of Netanyahu and bypass the whole world in line for Corona vaccines?
"He is an experienced politician, also as a cabinet secretary, as a cabinet member, with leadership skills and a backbone. Purity of judgment is critical. In addition, Gideon says there will be at least 40 percent women on the list, including the top ten, so we bring in the line. Throughout his career. There have been many jokes about why suddenly Asha-Biton will take his place, probably because we are not used to seeing a woman in a senior position. People approached me and asked why I agreed she would be, but I accept wholeheartedly. She is a young and promising politician, and I know "What is it about standing up for yours in complex circumstances? She has rightly and rightfully gained her status, not because she is a woman."
So you and Shasha-Biton are the stars of Saar.
It's nice but not overwhelming.
Who is expected to join the Likud?
"Real assessment - there will be no more. Gideon does not make an effort either."
Why not?
"He does not think it has much value. In my case, he did make an effort. Although there are quite a few Likud members who sit in the studios and call me a traitor, and in closed conversations or briefings to journalists say exactly what I said in my speech on Netanyahu. ".
Who are these?
"Why would I harm friends? They're scared. I understand them."
Gideon Saar Tzemach in the State Attorney's Office, will he make changes in the justice system?
"We are in favor of legal reforms, passing the Basic Law of Legislation and the overcoming clause, in the spirit of the Canadian overcoming clause. But the reforms should not be tailored to a personal problem. We need a proper series between the Knesset and the Supreme Court but we must not hold the debate in the current context.
By the way, Yariv Levin and I proposed it back in 2009 and Netanyahu stopped us.
I also remind you that Gideon passed laws on the subject when the Likud did not yet understand what it means to be a legal right. "
You say that Netanyahu has changed in recent years. Maybe Gideon has also changed?
" No.
After all, no one has forced him today, when he leads a party whose voters come from the center, to put a clause on reforms in the judiciary.
Saar negotiate the settlement younger, as in all his roles did everything to help settle. "
How to insert if a coalition?
" Need a stable government, so it is best widely us all a party which was a partner of Netanyahu in the present or the past can be a legitimate partner for us. "
According to the polls, parties "The right currently has more than 70 seats. Doesn't it make more sense for a party that gets the most seats to form a government?
" We can not be part of a government headed by Netanyahu.
We did not leave the Likud to serve again as ministers in the Netanyahu-led government. "
And if that means a fifth election?
" I give you a commitment.
Once Netanyahu is unable to establish, we will clean up.
Both Gideon and I are experienced enough, and I will invest everything I know about the Knesset in it. "
What does your wife say about the adventures you are going through, which must take your home on its own challenging route?
" When we celebrated Rosh Hashanah I wished my wife a slightly more boring year.
That's not going to happen anymore.
"True, and now I said that she will soon hear about me things she did not know, that I am a thief and a robber, because these are the methods that exist today in the Likud, to discredit the opponents.
But, this country needs a prime minister who will not harass it along with his environment from Balfour.
The country needs a safe environment. "