On video: Netanyahu received the mandate to form the government from the president, the coalition negotiations continue (L.A.M.)
Prime Minister-designate Binyamin Netanyahu said in an interview with American journalist Barry Weiss that the new government's policy will be determined by the Likud and by him, and he will not allow steps to be taken that would lead to security deterioration or harm democracy or the rights of minorities.
why is it important
This is the first major interview that Netanyahu has held since the elections and he focused on it in an attempt to calm the concerns of the political system and the Jewish community in the US regarding the new government's policy.
what are they saying
"Government policy will be determined by Likud and me.
There have been many prophecies of wrath in the past about my governments and none of them have come true.
I preserved Israeli democracy.
Israel will not be governed according to the laws of the Talmud.
We will not ban the existence of LGBT organizations. We will remain a state of law," Netanyahu said.
The prime minister-designate noted that various sources expressed to him a concern that he would give the Ministry of Defense to one of the smaller parties in the coalition.
"I told them it won't happen. This is a red line - the Ministry of Defense is in the hands of the Likud. Controlling the Ministry of Defense is not only to intercept missiles, but also to decide on policies that may set the area on fire. I want to avoid that," Netanyahu said.
He referred to the fact that he is putting together a coalition with extreme right-wing figures such as Itamar Ben Gabir and Bezalel Smutritz and said that the Supreme Court qualified Ben Gabir's candidacy in the elections.
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"If you are Jewish and carry out a terrorist attack - you will be punished like anyone else."
Netanyahu (Photo: Reuven Castro)
In response to a question about Jewish terrorism in the context of Ben Gabir's membership in the government, Netanyahu said: "No one gets permission to carry out terrorist acts. If you are Jewish and you carry out a terrorist attack, you will be punished like anyone else. The definition of terrorism is according to the act and not according to the operation."
Netanyahu emphasized that he supports the separation of powers and checks and balances, but pointed out that these balances have been violated in recent years in favor of the judicial system, and therefore changes need to be made that will not allow the court to be stronger than the government and the Knesset.
"We will not harm the rights of minorities. I will not let that happen," Netanyahu said.
In the news center
In an interview, Netanyahu referred for the first time to the meeting between former US President Donald Trump and the anti-Semitic rapper Kanye West. The meeting was also attended by the extreme rightist Nick Fuentes, who holds blatant anti-Semitic positions.
"Trump's decision to meet with them for dinner was wrong and out of place. I think it was a mistake. He shouldn't have done it. He was a big supporter of Israel and I appreciate everything he did for Israel. He made a mistake and I hope he didn't Will repeat it," Netanyahu said.
"Make changes that will not allow the High Court to be stronger than the government and the Knesset." Supreme Court Justices (Photo: Flash 90, Yonatan Zindel)
The big picture
Netanyahu said in an interview that there is a big difference between Israel's relations with the US and democratic countries in the West and Israel's relations with non-democratic countries. theirs," Netanyahu said.
"To decide on a policy that may set the area on fire."
Clashes between the IDF and the Palestinians in Hebron (Photo: Reuters)
The prime minister-designate presented a different position regarding China than he presented in the past and said that there is a limit to how much Israel can depend on countries that do not hold the same democratic worldview.
"We are learning a lesson from what happened with Corona when it comes to the supply chain," Netanyahu said.
"I pushed for increased trade with China and will continue to do so. But issues of national security are also important to us. We will continue to work with China but we will protect our interests."
What next
Netanyahu said in an interview that his first visit abroad as prime minister would be to the United Arab Emirates "to clarify the seriousness of his intentions" to invest in relations with Arab countries.
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Political-political
Foreign relations
Tags
Likud
Benjamin Netanyahu