_a.jpg "Photo: Yaron Brener")
Bibi Netanyahu
Photo: Yaron Brener
Likud approves ‘criminal elements’ amendment
Party’s Central Committee approves amendment aimed at preventing criminal elements from competing for spot on party’s list of Knesset candidates and ultimately removing them from Likud. Netanyahu: Likud leading process to cleanse Israeli politics
The Likud Central Committee approved Sunday the amendment to the charter, which is aimed at preventing criminal elements from competing for a spot on the party’s list of Knesset candidates and ultimately removing them from the party altogether.
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According to the amendment, members with criminal records and those who have been sentenced to three months active prison terms would not be allowed to run as candidates in party primaries and would be removed from the party.
'Government’s security policy is wrong'
On Monday Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with party ministers to determine a date for their resignation from cabinet.
The approval of the amendment to the charter was passed by an 85 percent majority and marked Netanyahu’s victory as the new chairman.
“This decision will lead to the removal of criminal elements that have infiltrated the party in recent years, “Netanyahu said following the vote.
“The Likud is leading a process to cleanse Israeli politics,” he added.
Likud Faction Chairman Gideon Saar said, “The government’s security policy is wrong; the only period during which there was a dramatic drop in terror was when we were in power.
“The policy of reciprocity that we conducted has been replaced by a unilateral withdrawal which offers a prize for terror and strengthens Hamas,” he added.
Saar also warned that Kadima and Labor are planning “a wide-scale withdrawal from the West Bank; one that will endanger Israel’s security.”
“We warned of the unilateral pullout from Gaza and of Ashkelon being within the range of Qassam fire,” he said.
