Citizens of Israel; Especially during these days,
we must not succumb to hatred. We must not allow personal boycotts
within the (political) ‘right’ thwart the establishment
of a right-wing government. We cannot repeat the Oslo disaster
by establishing a left-wing government with right-wing
olive’ branches hollow of substance. Such a government would be weak,
quarrelsome, divided, paralyzed. It will not even attempt to thwart Iran
from returning to a nuclear deal, because many of its members
support this dangerous agreement.
Such a government will have elements that reject the Jewish
character of the state, it will draw us back from
a free-market to a centralized one; from peace for peace to peace
for concessions and displacements. The majority of the nation rejects
such a government, even if there it will
have right-wing (elements within it).
Sixty-five mandates voted for a right-wing government,
the majority of which voted for me as Prime Minister,
directly on a Mahal (Likud) ballot, or indirectly for parties that
committed in advance to join a coalition under my leadership.
In this political reality which emerged, Bennett raised in our negotiations
a demand to become Prime Minister as part of a rotation-agreement
for the duration of one year. In parallel, he is negotiating
with Lapid for a similar demand ― even a greater one.
This is not an ordinary demand for one who heads a party
of merely seven mandates. However, my only consideration
forward is what currently lays on the scales
i.e. what is best for the state, a right-wing government
and not a left-wing government. Therefore, to avert a left-wing
government I have told Naftali Bennett that I will be willing
to accept his demand for a rotation arrangement in which he will be
appointed first as Prime Minister for a duration of one year.
Many are mistakenly thinking that our refusal to join a government
under Netanyahu is rooted in personal interests,
past issues, feelings, “boycotts,” egocentric considerations. etc.
These are unfounded. On the basis of our position,
the best interest of the state is our only consideration,
both presently and for the future.
It was 8:30 (AM) when they informed us that a woman,
had thrown herself from the 17th floor of the building.
I came and saw that it was true. We called the police,
and the police called the emergency services and they arrived
and said that it had been around five-to-six hours since her death.