Netanyahu forbids Likud ministers from attending launch of Knesset pro-settlement caucus
Netanyahu forbids Likud ministers from attending
launch of Knesset pro-settlement caucus
A senior
Likud source explained the PM didn't want any of his ministers caught making
embarrassing declarations like those by Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon,
who said the government doesn't support the two-state solution.
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| Likud members after the November primary. The logic of chaos and violence. Photo by Tomer Appelbaum |
Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu forbade
ministers from his Likud party to attend Tuesday's launch of the Knesset's Land
of Israel caucus.
The caucus
is headed by MKs Orit Strock (Habayit Hayehudi) and Yariv Levin (Likud). Its
goals are "preventing any harm to settlement and security" in the
West Bank, "advancing legislation that will strengthen settlement"
and "prevent any harm to it," "bolstering the legal status of
the Jewish people in the entire Land of Israel," "directing state
resources to strengthening settlement and security" in the West Bank, and
"rectifying the grave mistake of the disengagement [from Gaza] and preventing
its recurrence."
Though
ministers can't formally belong to any Knesset caucus, several Likud ministers
had sent letters welcoming the group's establishment, including Interior
Minister Gideon Sa'ar, Culture Minister Limor Livnat and Transportation
Minister Yisrael Katz. But none actually attended Tuesday's event, and Haaretz
has learned that this was on Netanyahu's orders.
A senior
Likud source explained that Netanyahu didn't want any of his ministers caught
making embarrassing declarations like those made last week by Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon,
who said the government doesn't support the two-state solution. Netanyahu has
been trying ever since to convince the world that Danon doesn't represent the
government's position.Thus the only ministers who did attend were Economy
Minister Naftali Bennett and Housing Minister Uri Ariel, both of Habayit
Hayehudi, and Tourism Minister Uzi Landau of Yisrael Beiteinu (which ran on a
joint ticket with Likud in the last election but remains an independent party).
Deputy
ministers from Likud did attend, however, including Tzipi Hotovely and Ofir
Akunis - though not Danon. Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Likud) also came.
The Prime Minister's Office declined to comment.
Strock stated in response
that the caucus' goal is to back the government, most of whose members agree
with the caucus' goals. She noted that many ministers had attended the event
and spoken warmly there.
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