Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke this evening (Wednesday) during a conference to open the Likud election campaign with heads of councils and authorities, during which he spoke with party activists via Zoom - and revealed that he is in the midst of "intensive peace talks with additional Arab leaders.".
According to Netanyahu, "Not only do the agreements we are bringing change for the better the relations between Israelis and Arabs outside Israel, they also change for the better the relations between Jews and Arabs inside Israel.".
Netanyahu said: "In three weeks, in the elections, they will vote for us and give an answer to my opponents and the media that has mobilized to act against me." According to him, "If we do not form a government, Lapid will form a government. There is no other option. Has anyone seen Yair Lapid lately? He is hiding because he does not want you to know that the question is who will be the next Prime Minister of the State of Israel. If you vote for Bennett or Gideon, you will transfer votes to the left and to Lapid and Merav Michaeli.
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""If we accept Yair Lapid as prime minister, there will be musical chairs here, with a change of prime minister every six months, like kitchen duty. Danny Dayan also blurted out that Gideon Amer will sit in a government headed by Lapid. After taking off all the masks, we have to understand that this will be a close battle between a stable right-wing government and those who give their votes to Lapid.".
He continued to attack the Yesh Atid chairman: "Lapid said that 80,000 settlers should be evacuated. I operate according to the opposite concept. Instead of peace in exchange for territories, I brought peace in exchange for peace. I am in the midst of additional contacts with Arab leaders. These are contacts that also affect the Arabs of Israel. We are bringing a new era to the Arabs of Israel and I call on them to come and be part of this miracle of the State of Israel.
""Remember what Lapid said about the vaccines? He claimed that a box with 5 vaccines would arrive in January, and all the rest would arrive after all. But we brought 12 million vaccines. We are world champions in vaccines. While Lapid is giving up, I am already in the middle of doing it. When Yair Lapid gives up - I start rolling up my sleeves.".
""The media broadcasts every evening about a failure, and the world media reports on the miracle that is happening in the State of Israel. Who will bring you vaccines? Who will lead to peace? Who will fight the court in The Hague? Lapid has closed deals with Bennett and Gideon, and could also be with Lieberman, for a government that will create chaos and paralysis.".
Netanyahu also responded to attempts to stop his economic plan. "We are facing a scandal that politicians and legal advisors are preventing us from bringing economic aid. They tell me this is an election economy. If I fail to approve the plan before the elections, I will bring the economic aid the day after the elections. I will bring Israel's economy to first place in the world.".
The prime minister also addressed threats from Iran. "Who will stop Iran from arming itself with bombs? These months will be crucial on the issue of Iran. As long as I am the prime minister of Israel, Iran will not have nuclear weapons. We will stand up to the entire world and I will continue to do everything necessary to protect the citizens of Israel from threats of annihilation.".
