In an interview with Israel Today, the Prime Minister warns against bowing down to Tehran: "We will accept the nuclearization of more countries" • Does not apologize for winking at Arab society: "I told them not to vote together" • Sees the end of the corona: • And attacks the media: "Trying to split the right"
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Photo:
Eric Sultan
"With the vaccines we will finish during the month of March-early April. These are vaccines for the adult population. Then the vaccines for children will come. I assume they will be approved during April-May, and we will receive these vaccines immediately after that. And we are already in touch with the two big companies. Personalities with their CEOs.
Either it will be the same vaccine - or a modified vaccine.
There will also be vaccines that are adapted to the various mutations that develop.
We are negotiating tens of millions of vaccines. "
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes that Israel will be able to emerge from the corona crisis as a leading country and that the production agreements with the major vaccine companies will benefit it.
In February last year there was a background call, so he said there was a new virus, the corona, that was going to attack us.
He said it would be long and hard, and a year later the obvious question is how much longer we will be around with this thing - with the limitations, with the adhesives and with the masks.
"The masks? It will take more time," Netanyahu says in an interview with Israel This Week, "Children are a quarter of Israel's population. We will have to develop another capability. We live in the age of viruses. I worried that Israel would be the world leader - not just by procurement - for the next vaccine. It is to make Israel a necessary link in the global supply chain of vaccines. "
Netanyahu: "With or without an agreement, Iran cannot reach nuclear weapons" // Photo: From the Information Center's Facebook page
Before the interview began, in a few minutes of filming in the conference room next to his room in the bureau, Netanyahu practiced the big hit "Na na na na, na na na na na."
Worked precisely on the ascending and descending intonation and rhythm.
Recalls a hit by Neta Barzilai.
Perhaps this mood is a result of the Likud's assessment that their situation is better than what is reflected in the polls, ahead of the election.
The secret weapon that also worked in the previous round is the "Elector" software, whose role is to recruit a huge number of passive Likud voters in recent days and on Election Day itself, which can amount to about ten seats.
But even before the polls, vaccinations are the order of the day, as is the return of students who are still sitting at home to schools.
Can't teachers be forced to get vaccinated?
"There are legal problems, I have endless legal problems. It is not for nothing that OECD representatives said that Israel is the most bureaucratic and legal country. The law should adapt itself to life and not life to the law. Maintaining the health of the people, as well as security, requires a change in the law "So we are changing the law. I have not yet been able to instill this insight in all the systems in Israel. Over-legalization, legalization, is a blow to the state no less than a legal deficit."
"Truman said, 'If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.' I can also stand the heat."
Netanyahu with Amnon Lord and Boaz Bismuth // Photo: Arik Sultan
Why do tenth graders not go to school?
"Because they can study in zoom and the lower grades less. And they are also contagious. But we will open them during the month of March."
Talk about vaccine diplomacy.
We have vaccines to give.
Did you raise it or did heads of state contact you please?
"About 30 countries have approached us. Everyone wants to know how we caused this miracle and everyone wants to take part in it, whether with knowledge or assistance. The situation in the world is difficult. Of course the media in Israel does not tell about it but about the problems and difficulties here. The Israeli.
We're about to get the adult population, over 16, out of the corona.
Open the economy.
No country has a privilege like the green passport.
I have established a line - your previous immunizations.
First of all, we guarantee that we have stock for every citizen, above and beyond.
I agreed with Pfizer that we would have a continuous supply, no need to stop the second vaccines.
It is possible to make full progress and by the end of March we will have finished vaccinating the adult population in the country.
The surplus vaccines we give to tradition, we would like to give more, officials and other countries. "
The data of H"oorldomtr" show that we have approximately 715 thousand recover. Number of deaths is higher than 5,500. This shows that the paste is at high levels and what we did not work - Apart from the treatment that the medical staff knows how to give to the patients and the vaccines. Everything in the middle, did not work.
"First of all, one has to understand - there is no other solution, and I understood that in the first place.
Every loss of human life is a tragedy.
But things need to be addressed relative to the size of the country.
Belgium with 22,000 dead.
They are our size.
Czech Republic with 19,000 dead.
Sweden, which was supposedly the model country - 12 thousand dead.
Britain with 120 thousand.
She is seven times bigger than us.
They are four times us in relation to the soul.
Israel is in a less bad place than other countries.
"But there is no doubt that the real solution is vaccines, so I acted on time. I preceded the countries of the world by ensuring the supply that allows us to get out of the corona first by huge gaps. I remind you that over 90 percent of mortality, morbidity, are concentrated in 50s and older. - Go get vaccinated. Do not believe the Pike News. This vaccine is natural. What is not natural is the corona. Were it not for the age of vaccines, which today some say is unnatural, the average life expectancy was 30 years. The fact that vaccines for chickenpox and other diseases raised The life expectancy for eighty and a few years. "
"There are legal problems in the law that require teachers to get vaccinated, but maintaining public health requires a change in the law. Vaccines are the order of the day" // Photo: Amos Ben Gershom / GPO
A promise from Biden
gives the impression that we are going to move pretty quickly from an epidemic agenda to a political winter agenda, headed by a quick return to the nuclear deal.
There is also talk of a return to a two-state solution.
"I think the next election is about who the next prime minister will be - me or Yair Lapid. Ask any citizen who stood up to the pressures that came from the American governments, and there were some governments that wanted to push us to the '67 lines and put us in great danger. Lapid said the solution for him was to displace 100,000 Jews, to make concessions and withdrawals that would endanger our security. So on the contrary, the Americans know how to respect our firm stance both politically and on the issue of Iran.
"This is another question, who will face Iran.
Me or Torch?
I, who lead the global opposition to the nuclear armament of Iran, or Lapid, who supported this agreement together with his comrades.
It's not just in these areas.
Who will propel our economy forward?
I, who brought about the economic revolution in Israel, who have already brought Israel out of a major economic crisis, or Lapid, who was the most failed finance minister.
Who brought millions of vaccines and who will bring millions of vaccines?
Lapid who said there would only be five vaccines here?
He was only wrong by a factor of a million ... "
But the problem is not with your dispute with Gantz, Lapid or the left, but the dispute with Biden and his people.
" I have proved that I can protect the vital interests of the State of Israel against pressures that no prime minister has withstood ".
But an agreement was still reached. Full of holes, but an agreement.
" The opposition I led in my speech in Congress led to the fact that public opinion in the United States continued to see Iran as a hostile factor, as it is today, so when the administration changed they withdrew from the agreement. Iran has ended; on the contrary, it continues. Iran's atomic bombs are an existential threat to the State of Israel. The struggle to prevent this is the first goal of the next prime minister. Who will do it - Lapid with his partners Gideon Saar and Bennett? Or I who led the struggle "Global and still a leader. As long as I am prime minister, Iran will not have nuclear weapons. I will do whatever it takes to prevent that, and I said that to President Biden as well. With agreement or without agreement."
This means that in the current situation, the last solution we have left is a military solution.
"Why? We acted in many ways, I will not detail everything we did - in political pressures, in passing economic and other sanctions against Iran, even in the Obama era. In intelligence operations, in operations like the incredible raid on the nuclear archive and distribution of this material showing its plans and violations of nuclear weapons and more. I will not elaborate at this time. "
You mentioned the conversation with Biden.
"Following my talks with Biden, the Iranian issue has been given very high priority. Were it not for the actions I have led in the last decade, Iran would already have a nuclear arsenal that would threaten our very existence. According to their plans, they were already due to bomb, and they are not there because of the resistance we lead. An issue that of course we want to swallow, but this is the first task of the next Israeli prime minister. "
"I have spoken to dozens of leaders against the decision of the tribunal in The Hague, I hope we will be able to remove this awful idea" \\ Photo: GettyImages
"Back to agreement?
We're not in 2015"
Biden, Clinton and Obama - not exactly ideological partners.
But Obama was still talking about a military option.
Biden outwardly does not speak of a military option.
Will he also go without choice on such an option?
"I'm not talking about Biden. He speaks for himself. He says he opposes nuclear weapons in Iran's. I'm glad to hear that from him. But I do not leave the fate of the Jewish state in the hands of others and also the best of our friends. I reserve and develop options to prevent nuclear weapons in all. Price. That's what we did and that's what we will do. I will not elaborate beyond that. "
The question that arises from this, assuming we need to be much more active, is the change of government in the US bringing the region closer to war?
”I argue that a return to the previous nuclear deal is a terrible mistake.
First of all because we are no longer in 2015, and Iran has progressed through the agreement that allows it to outrageously develop centrifuges that enrich uranium - the core of atomic bombs - at a much higher rate, and besides, it has also violated the agreement.
So on both sides, from the existence of the agreement and its violation, Iran of 2021 is not that of 2015. Returning to the agreement that paved its way to a nuclear arsenal would be a big mistake, which will bring both the threat to us but also the whole region This is a terrible development in human history and I will do everything I can to prevent it. "
And the pressures may not actually eliminate the peace agreements between us and the Emirates, Morocco?
"On the contrary - they are only strengthening the agreements. Because all countries that fear the overthrow of their regimes by Iran's terrorist action and aggression, see us as a cornerstone of their defense because of the determination I lead in resisting Iran. Their understanding that Israel is an essential ally is a fundamental component. I would say that the perception of peace between us and the Arab world has changed completely. I abolished the existing Palestinian veto, which did not allow us to break into this space and realize our interests - both economic and security - with Arab countries. That thing cannot be answered. "
I see the opposite, Mr. Prime Minister. Since Iran threatens both the Emirates and Saudi Arabia, and they have relations with Iran and we do not, then an administration like Biden's can make them approach Tehran and stay away from us.
"The existing rule in the political arena is Jabotinsky.
If one side presses in the direction that is negative for you, you need to press the opposite side and balance it.
It's an endless effort.
I bring the opposite pressures.
Both by combining interests with Arab states, and also by opposing the contacts of the American administration, and also in the face of American and global public opinion.
To date we have made tremendous efforts to prevent Iran from arming itself and crossing red lines I set at the time.
I am not saying that the effort has stopped.
The question that needs to be asked is - who will continue it? "
"The agreement allows Iran to outrageously develop centrifuges that enrich uranium at a much higher rate" // Photo: AFP
When it was published in the "Jewish Chronicle" that Israel had entered some tuna-heavy facility in Iran and performed some action - is this message intended for anyone?
"I do not refer to messages. I also do not refer to actions. I do not refer to policies. My policy is to prevent in any way, overt or covert, diplomatic or public, economic or military, from Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. If they obtain nuclear weapons they can or will attack us. Directly or put a nuclear umbrella over our heads and use it as a means of conventional attack on us using statistical and accurate missiles. All history changes when that happens.
"In the end everything has to do with our history as a people.
2,500 years ago another Persian tyrant thought he could destroy the Jewish people and he failed.
I say to these oppressors who want to destroy the Jewish state - you too will fail.
We have the courage and the faith and the determination to defend our country and the ayatollahs' regime cannot stop the course of 3,000 or more years of Jewish history.
In order to delay Iran, two fundamental things are needed: First, a credible military option.
Second - economic pressures.
We have been able to maintain these two things over the years and we will have to maintain them in the coming years. "
What do you think about the attack on the chief of staff following the speech in which he spoke about policy with Iran?
"I think it's absurd. Most of the public supports the strong policies I lead."
"Not looking to
please
" There is a claim that the International Court of Justice in The Hague is constantly stepping up and raising the flames against us, and our reactions are lukewarm. We do not deter the Palestinians from continuing to operate there. For example a decision to increase settlement or develop E1 in response to a decision by The Hague.
"I think we run it on different levels as well. I prefer not to talk about it. I'm glad there has not yet been an implementation of the court's scandalous decision, which says living in Jerusalem is a war crime. Or to say that our soldiers - who are unparalleled in avoiding victims and harming civilians , Who are fighting terrorists who have no equal in the deliberate harm to the civilian population - committing war crimes. This is absurd, a scandal. I have spoken to dozens of leaders in recent weeks against this decision. I hope we can remove this awful idea. I do not want to elaborate. "Not the effective way. The effective way is what achieves results. So far we have achieved results."
You are accused of something more serious - the fact that you fail to unite the right-wing voters.
That some right-wing voters are actually threatening to elect a left-wing government.
"About seventy percent of Israeli citizens are right-wing. There is a huge effort in the media to divide the camp. We are facing a historic opportunity to form a full-fledged right-wing government, a strong stable government under my leadership. The alternative is a full or partial left-wing government. How many people in the State of Israel want to see rotation? Four. Not percent - four! It's absurd, after we went through this unforgettable experience of rotations and privacy.
"Whoever votes for Bennett and Gideon Saar actually passes votes from right to left.
And it is not for nothing that you see left-wing commentators in studios encouraging voting for them.
Why?
Do they want to see a right-wing government?
Because they understand that this is what will keep us from this one-time opportunity to form a stable, strong and genuine right-wing government under my leadership.
I believe there will be a disillusionment in the remaining month. "
How much does the Likud need to achieve to achieve this goal, to have 61 seats on the right?
" We are currently sitting on 30 seats with a 60-seat bloc. What we see is an amazing thing - a bloc of almost ten seats Likud sitting at home.
Our job is to get them to the polls.
In the last election we had to bring in about 300,000 voters and we did.
We now have a mission to bring between nine and ten seats to the polls.
Let them come and vote.
I believe this is a possible task.
Bennett and Saar do not explain that they have no way of forming a government without Lapid and without Merav Michaeli, without Meretz and without the common.
Bennett made a surplus agreement with Gideon.
I mean he passes votes from right to left. "
You ran your first campaign 25 years ago. What is the difference between then and today?
" The huge difference is that today we do not have a campaign.
Today we have action.
Today voters see the formation and it has nothing to do with slogans and slogans and propaganda films.
This is doing in its incarnation.
That's the difference in this election campaign. "
Perhaps the big change is your attitude towards the Arab public?
" A huge and historic change. "
You usually called them" the non-Jewish public, "now you say" Arab society.
"" I also say Arabs.
I checked how much we invested in the Arab public.
I have seen that there is a struggle between progress and the darkness of radical Islam.
I have always wanted to see the Arabs choose progress and integrate into the State of Israel.
I checked how much I invested from 2011 until today - it's not just the NIS 15 billion to close the gaps.
But 21 billion shekels, because they also gave billions to the Bedouin in the north, in the south.
To the Druze public for increased security.
Employment plan.
"This is the nation state of the Jewish people, but there must be equal civil rights and opportunities for every citizen, and this is also Jabotinsky's perception. The big difference is that today the eyes of the Arab public are open. I told them: do not go to the joint list, because it does not represent you. It radicalizes the discourse. It drags you to a dead end street of clashing with Zionism, of supporting terrorism. To the narrative of the PA and Hamas.
"We set up nine police stations in the sector. There was only one. I was in Acre. A model for coexistence and the eradication of crime. This week we were also in the Jwarish in Ramla. For half a year there is nothing. That children can go out into the street without fear of being shot.
And they saw the four peace agreements and the fact that the commonwoman opposed them.
It's making a difference.
It is not just that we are changing the relations between Arabs and Jews outside of Israel - we are changing the relations within the State of Israel. "
How did it happen that most of those who were called" Likud princes "left the Likud and are fighting against you?
"
Ask them.
I did not change my ways.
Neither my civilian nor security doctrine, which says we must prepare for war to reach peace.
Nor was it my political doctrine that said to turn to public opinion and a real and poignant discourse to secure the future of the state.
They moved to the other camp.
This is their right.
I do not want to be the psychologist here. "
Some of them wave at Jabotinsky's books and say that the Likud under your leadership is no longer liberal.
" I am very liberal.
I'm a classic 19th century classic.
Economic liberalism with a central social component.
You can not worry about a society without a free economy because otherwise the economy will shrink.
And you do not have the resources to give to the needs of the public.
Only an economy is growing.
I believe in the rights of the individual.
And freedom in all areas. "
Do the media attacks strengthen you?
" Strengthen me inside.
In general, in order to do what I do, the psychic forces must withstand an endless attack, day in, day out, hour in, against me.
Against my wife, against my children.
It requires a deep sense of mission.
Without it there is no point in all this effort.
There is a sense of a very large public that over the years has freed itself from the grip of this media, the provincial media, understood the truths I am saying here.
It is the immense public support that gives me the strength to continue the mission.
If the attacks on me strengthen me outwardly?
I believe that without it we would have had 50 seats. "
So they are effective.
" Obviously.
If you have a seventy percent majority that is right-wing then you should have gotten a large portion of that.
The unbridled attacks affect some of the public.
I'm not looking to be liked, I'm not built that way.
Ask how I stand.
I ask - what is my alternative?
Can't stand it?
To bow your head?
Say things I do not believe in?
To do things that I think will endanger the State of Israel?
If you can not stand the heat - get out of the kitchen, Truman said.
I can also tolerate the heat. "