Knafi speaks at Likud convention
Photo: Channel 2
Likud member blames Bibi for ‘expulsion’
David Knafi, who was evacuated from Gaza settlement of Atzmona, harshly criticized Netanyahu at Likud Central Committee meeting: ‘Bibi fully responsible for banishment of Jews,’ he says
Likud Central Committee member David Knafi, who was evacuated from Gush Katif settlement of Atzmona recently, issued a surprising attack on Knesset Member Benjamin Netanyahu during Sunday’s Likud convention.
“I am full of regret, sadness and rage today, for being evacuated from Gush Katif on August 15th. On August 24th my house was demolished along with other Gush Katif homes – but what can we do?” he said.
“The Knesset approved the pullout by a large majority, and it isn’t fair to cast the blame on one man only,” he said.
In his speech, Knafi did not spare his criticism of Netanyahu.
Early Primaries?
Attila Somfalvi
Central Committee members set to decide whether to bring forward ruling party primaries. Voting to end at 10 p.m. Monday, results expected by midnight. Meanwhile, police to investigate Sunday night’s ‘microphone fiasco’
“All the ministers and Members of Knesset supported him, and there is not only one person to blame in the State of Israel – there is no such thing. Everyone, also the people who sat on this stage, Members of Knesset and the ministers, they are also responsible,” Knafi added.
“Netanyahu is fully responsible for the fact that Jews were banished, and he should not come and say otherwise.
“Bibi as a finance minister is responsible for this (compensation-evacuation) law, and he cannot escape. If he had come to the prime minister and said ‘I do not approve of this law’, the prime minister would have changed it,” Knafi noted.
‘We are refugees because of Bibi’
Knafi proceeded to blast Netanyahu for turning former Gaza residents into refugees.
“He should not play with us in the media now, saying that we are suddenly refugees in our own country. We are refugees because Bibi did not take care of us. And don’t cast the blame on one person, everyone here is responsible. And this law has turned the settlers into beggars and bankrupt people,” he said.
“Now I also tell you – I personally invited him, Bibi, to come and visit Gush Katif. Here is the invitation. He did not come because he doesn’t care about the evacuated settlers”.
Netanyahu’s spokesman said in response that “Any person understands that Knafi’s claims have no basis. The only person he should forward his claims to is Sharon, who banished and uprooted and destroyed the Jewish settlement in Gush Katif along with its 7,000 residents without receiving anything in return.”
“It is a fact that the unilateral escape from Gaza does not bring more security to Israel and definitely does not bring peace,” the spokesman said.
