Moshe Gafni: 'Smotrich has a major contribution to the establishment of this government''

April 12, 2022   

Despite the high optimism in the right-wing parties: MK Moshe Gafni spoke this evening (Tuesday) with Yaakov Bardugo and Danny Zaken on the program 'Quarter to Five' on Galei Israel Radio - and sharply attacked his opposition colleague, Bezalel Smotrich. Cleaning for Passover: What do you know about the rules for maintaining the home gas system? Bardugo began by asking MK Moshe Gafni: Is there some kind of reconciliation between you and Lieberman? You sound a little reconciled. Gafni: "Not even a little. If I sounded reconciled towards Lieberman, I apologize. Lieberman is doing the most terrible thing that can be done in a democratic society. He takes a member of the population that is politically convenient for him to beat mercilessly - and does so. "We will never, ever forgive this man, Lieberman. And the media that does not tear this man apart will never be forgiven. If Lieberman did what he does to another group in the population - they would not let him stay in politics for a single minute. This is a man without values ​​and boundaries. He walked with us for quite some time, with the Haredim. I remember that I was the chairman of the Finance Committee and helped him with all his various requests. He has no agenda." Gafni Lebardogo added: "This government needs to go, but we in the opposition need to take stock and make every effort so that we can form a government without elections, headed by Netanyahu. Benny Gantz does not belong to the clique that runs this government. I really want him to join in on this matter, I am in favor of a joint discussion." Gafni emphasized: "Today, formally, the Bennett era is over. A prime minister is someone who can pass decisions. Bennett cannot. I watched Bennett's interviews... The man is not in control, he understands that he does not have a government and a coalition, even at home. The last thing he has left to do is speak on all channels and say things that have no basis in reality." Even though the government's collapse is imminent, Gafni took advantage of the interview to clash with the chairman of Religious Zionism: "Smotrich is not making those around him happy. When history judges this reality, this reality that we are in the opposition - Smotrich will star there, he made a great contribution to the establishment of this government." He added: "Ask the Likud people who prevented Netanyahu from becoming prime minister and you will hear the answers. This is not shooting at an APC. We in this opposition are on excellent terms of friendship, everyone, from Netanyahu to little Eli." Smotrich responded to Gafni's words, writing on his Twitter account: "A time for unity. A time for love of Israel. Dear MK Gafni, a kosher and happy Passover to you and your family and to the entire House of Israel." Political commentator Yaakov Rivlin tweeted: "Here is the gist of the argument between Gafni and Smotrich - Gafni is not claiming that Smotrich should have agreed to a minority government with the RMM. He claims that he should have pretended to agree and then Bennett and Saar or Gantz would have come too. "Smotrich claims that this pretense would have become reality and no one would have joined. That's it.".