Bibi woos Center: 'Likud made peace’
Newly elected Likud leader attempts to fight right-wing image of party, says Likud ‘made peace with Egypt; I conducted successful negotiations with the Palestinians.’
In a Likud faction session Wednesday, Bibi made sure to remind those in attendance of the central role played by Likud in finalizing peace agreements with the Arab world.
Netanyahu also said the party would present a plan for a comprehensive fight against corruption, under the leadership of the Knesset’s Constitution Committee Chairman, MK Michael Eitan.
The Likud meeting was characterized by an air of optimism, in the wake of Netanyahu’s primaries victory. Bibi told faction members he will convene the Likud Central Committee this coming Sunday in order to approve Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom’s guaranteed number two spot.
Netanyahu also said he decided to set up a committee to formulate the party’s platform ahead of the upcoming elections.
The committee, which will include Silvan Shalom, Uzi Landau, Yuval Steinitz, Gideon Saar, and Danny Naveh, will help the Likud disprove attempts to portray the party as radical and marginal, he said.
“Those attempts are baseless,” he said.
Distancing from Feiglin
"We have always taken care of the State's security and have always dealt with the principle of mutuality. These constitute the real base for proper relations with our neighbors, rather than continuing the unilateral withdrawal policy, which only encourages terror organizations,” Netanyahu said.
The Likud chairman added that "three months are a long time for us to return our voters."
"I had difficult discussions with people who want to leave our home. We must continue in a wise way. Many times we want to be right, but we must also be wise,” he said.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu's aides announced Tuesday evening that they were examining the legal options to remove Moshe Feiglin from the Likud. However, it is still unclear whether this is a real option or a "spin" intended to minimize the damage caused to the Likud's image by the increase in Feiglin, who is viewed as a far rightist and made strong gains in Monday’s Likud primaries.
In order to create an impression of "centralization," Netanyahu would like to distinguish himself from Feiglin as much as possible, despite the fact the two cooperated more than once in the past two years.
"We have always cared about Jerusalem's unity," Netanyahu said during the Likud meeting. He also did not forget to mention how he "saved the economy."
"I think that everyone knows that we saved Israel's economy from collapse by undertaking numerous and very difficult efforts," he said.
"I am aware of the fact that there were those who were hurt by these crucial steps, but today, as a result of our policy, the State's coffers have been filled up and there is a possibility to help the lower classes and to reduce the gaps in society," he said.
