Energy Minister Eli Cohen of the Likud estimated this morning (Wednesday) on the Be'er Sheva network that the elections will be held during September - due to the crisis in the conscription law.
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Cohen made it clear that, contrary to the ultra-Orthodox's threats to end the alliance with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he does not see such a possibility on the agenda. "I don't think the bloc is disbanding. It's hard for me to see them settling with Gilad Kariv, who is a Reform rabbi," Cohen said.
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Cohen attacked the opposition: "The previous government was the most anti-Haredi government in the country. What draft law was passed?" he wondered. "When Lapid and Lieberman carved the issue against Haredim and the firebrand against the sector on their foreheads, I didn't see that there was any law.".
Cohen added: "I think the issue of conscription needs to be promoted because it is important for the security of the state. Two of my children are in active reserve service under Order 8. We need to act on the issue of conscription. The security needs of the State of Israel require that the circle of conscripts be increased and this needs to be corrected.".
Cohen is also not worried about his party's position in the polls of left-leaning media outlets and the state of the bloc. "I don't think we're in trouble. Even in the 2015 election campaign, Likud had 21-22 seats a few weeks before the election and we ended up with 30," he said, attacking the media: "I'm not excited about your polls. Everyone in the media speaks from one position or another.".
Cohen reiterated the right-wing claim that Naftali Bennett will once again join a coalition with Mansour Abbas. "Not only did Bennett say he wouldn't go with Mansour Abbas, he said he wouldn't go with Lapid. Take Yoram Cohen, who also says that if they don't have 61 seats, they will form a government and they want to form it with the support or leaning on the Joint List.".
