Bibi hits back at Sharon
Finance minister’s associates say prime minister brought “mafia-style” leadership into Israeli politics
JERUSALEM - Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his associates have brought mafia-style leadership into Israeli politics, Finance Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s close associates charged Monday.
“Sharon and his people are trampling on every democratic norm,” one official who declined to be named said.
The remarks come a day after Sharon hinted Netanyahu was behind recent efforts to topple the government. The charge followed a recent late-night meeting between Netanyahu and Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.
Sharon’s associates said the meeting was called in a bid to elicit Shas’ support for a pullout referendum.
Netanyahu chose to remain silent in the face of the accusations, but decided to hit back after sources close to the prime minister said “Netanyahu should be watching his back.”
Meanwhile, Sharon associates slammed the latest remarks coming from Netanyahu’s direction.
“After we saw what was written in the media, we clarified to Netanyahu’s people that we condemn the statement,” one official said.
‘Referendum could prevent national rift’
“The political system should be shocked by the style of expressions coming out of the prime minister’s office,” a senior official close to Netanyahu told Ynet. “This is an unprecedented phase in threats by Sharon’s people on Likud leaders.”
It is easy to imagine the outcry that would follow similar threats on the prime minister, the official said.
“An outcry about incitement and calls to launch a criminal investigation would follow immediately,” he said. “Those words are coming out of the prime minister’s office, but the prime minister is silent.”
The official said it was time to publicly condemn the norm of presenting those who have legitimate disagreements with Sharon as subversive and enemies of the nation.
Regarding charges that the finance minister was acting to topple the government through his support of a pullout referendum, Netanyahu’s associates said he has called for a referendum in a bid to prevent a national rift for a long time.
“We should remember that the one who acts democratically, in line with Likud decisions…is Netanyahu, while Sharon is the one acting against them,” one official said.
