New Hope Chairman MK Gideon Sa'ar, at the beginning of his faction's Knesset meeting, addressed the 'Meron disaster' - and Netanyahu's proposal that Bennett serve as prime minister in the first year.
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""The terrible tragedy in Meron burns the heart. 45 Jews who came to celebrate Lag BaOmer - did not return home. Yesterday I paid a condolence visit to the Zakbach family home in Bnei Brak. My heart aches for Menachem, a gentle-hearted Abreech, father of a one-year-old toddler whose wife is pregnant, who did not return home from the mountain, like 44 other Jews.
""What happened on Mount Meron, and not just this year, is not consistent with the conduct of a reformed state. A comprehensive, thorough and independent investigation must be conducted, without any cover-up, in order to root out corrupt practices, draw lessons and lay the foundations for reformed state conduct, which ensures the safety and well-being of participants in mass events.".
About the political blunder he said:
""Many are mistaken in thinking that our opposition to joining a government led by Netanyahu is based on personal reasons, past issues, emotions, 'boycotts,' ego considerations, and the like. There is no basis for this.".
At the foundation of our position - our vision of the state's present and future good. Just last week we saw an illustration of the way state affairs are managed in the issue of appointing the Minister of Justice. For many weeks, the government operated without anyone holding the position - an unprecedented thing in itself, until the High Court of Justice ordered the government to make the appointment.
Then the government mobilized to make an appointment that was against the law while silencing the Attorney General.
After that - we saw a zig-zag that ended with Benny Gantz being appointed to the position. This cannot continue. And for that, change is needed.
I heard Netanyahu, a little while ago, talking about 65 seats. That is, he counted the voters of 'New Hope' among his supporters. But the voters of 'New Hope' voted for us on the opposite side of that - committed to change and not to the continuation of Netanyahu's rule.
Even Netanyahu's move to the role of alternate prime minister for a year, and the continuation of his term as prime minister, is not what 'New Hope' voters voted for. 'New Hope' voters voted for change.
"Therefore, we - their representatives in the Knesset - will continue to act to the best of our ability to maximize the chance for change - for the sake of Israel and its citizens.".
