Campaign mode: Netanyahu extols his achievements as elections announced
After vote is called for April, the prime minister says he is optimistic voters will grant him a new mandate, touts security and financial accomplishments, hints at little change in future coalition.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went into campaign mode Moday, shortly after an announcement by coalition leaders to disperse the Knesset and schedule elections for April 9, listing his accomplishments in a speech to members of his Likud faction.
The prime minister extolled his achievements in the fields of energy, transportation infrastructure and the diplomatic sphere. Israel has enhanced and upgraded its relationship with several African, Latin American and Middle Eastern countries during the last few years.
Netanyahu hailed Israel's strong security position referring to the IDF's ongoing Operation Northern Shield to deprive Hezbollah of their attack tunnels, as well as recent developments in the Gaza arena.
The prime minister also hailed the vitality of the Israeli economy, the low unemployment rate and a recent minimum wage increase.
The Likud leader expressed optimism that voters would acknowledge the government's accomplishments and give him a further mandate to lead the country. He said that people around the world see the many accomplishments of the State of Israel and admire the country.
Netanyahu stated that he views the current coalition as the framework for a future coalition, anticipating no major changes.
He referred to the period in November, after Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman resigned his post and quit the coalition, when Netanyahu fought to hold onto what was left of the coalition and avoid early elections. Netanyahu said that at the time he was not at liberty to discuss the imminent IDF operation against Hezbollah tunnels on the northern border; now, he said, he is ready for elections.
Asked about Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid, whose sudden withdrawal of support for a new draft bill triggered the early elections, Netanyahu compared Lapid to legendary escape artist Harry Houdini. He said Lapid would have to figure out how to extricate himself from his commitment to his constituents to support the draft bill.
The prime minister brushed off the impending possibility of an indictment to be issued against him in a series of cases alleging corruption, saying he "has no expectations" on the subject.
The Knesset is expected to be dispersed on Wednesday. Education Minister Naftali Bennett was not present during the coalition meeting but said via telephone that he supports holding elections in April.
The decision was made acknowledging the fact that Netanyahu's narrow coalition of 61 members is not capable of passing a new draft bill that was scheduled to be passed by January 15th in order to regulate the status of draft age Haredi Yeshiva students.
Earlier on Monday, the Yesh Atid and Yisrael Beytenu factions announced that, despite past declarations, they do not intend to support the bill from the opposition, preventing Netanyahu from fulfilling a pledge to the Haredi parties.
They said that they were rejecting what they described as a deal being made between Netanyahu and the Haredi parties. According to them, the law would not actually be implemented and the Likud intended to make amendments after it was passed or find a roundabout way to return the fines levied on those Yeshivot not fulfilling their draft quotas, to the Haredi parties.
Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman referred to the coalition leaders' announcement regarding elections: "I congratulate the coalition leaders on the decision. We already said last month that this government is in survival mode and barely functions. We want to make sure that despite the rumor mill, there is no deal between the Likud and the ultra-Orthodox parties regarding the draft bill. We are saying in advance that we will condition our joining a future coalition in that the draft bill will not be changed."
"In order to maintain economic stability and for other reasons, together we decided to go to elections as soon as possible," Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon said at a meeting of the Kulanu faction, "The shorter the elections run-up, the less it will cost the state." The Finance Minister added: "We brought the Israeli economy to the best position it has been in recent years."
Asked if he believes that the prime minister can continue serving if an indictment is submitted against him, Kahlon reiterated: "I already stated, a prime minister cannot serve following a (criminally related) hearing."
From the Haredi parties, MK Yisrael Eichler said: "(the elections) release Haredi society from a harsh internal disagreement. I hope that the Israeli public will talk about the high cost of living and not just about the agenda of Yair Lapid. Enough Jewish infighting —we need to choose a government which concerns itself with the common man in all matters of life."
