Likud Minister Yossi Peled
Photo: Ofer Amram
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
is under attack, this time by his own party member. Likud
Minister Yossi Peled met with settlers in Efrat, an Israeli settlement and a local council in the Judean Mountains of the West Bank, and said that Defense Minister Ehud Barak was
not responsible for construction freeze. He called on the settlers to pressure Netanyahu.
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Peled arrived at Gush Etzion to give a lecture, but was surprised to see less than 10 participants. "How could it be that there are so few people?" he wondered.
Deputy Mayor Joshua Adler offered an explanation. "About 50% of the residents here voted for Likud, but the problem is that nothing is being built here. The Likud betrayed the residents. They didn't even allow us to start building. A freeze has been going on here for nine years now."
Peled, who is known for his right-wing opinions regarding the freeze in the settlements and the negotiations with the Palestinians, even shocked the participants with his advice. According to him, "your mistake is that you keep on attacking Ehud Barak."
Those present at the lecture said that Peled suggested they put pressure on Netanyahu. Peled promised the Gush Etzion residents to present their claims at the upcoming Likud assembly.
National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau also slammed the prime minster recently. In an interview with Ynet he accused Netanyahu of ruining the country by postponing decisions and said he was responsible for the electricity and water crisis.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman also slammed the Likud leaders this week, including Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, due to their objection to establish a parliamentary inquiry commission into the activity left wing organizations.
Officials in Judea and Samaria and Gush Etzion said there have been many visits by ministers and Knesset members lately. "They're probably starting to smell the elections and beginning to prepare for them," one official said. "They visit, speak to the residents, make an appearance. This usually happens when politicians start to prepare for primaries or elections."
Peled responded by saying: "I told them Barak wasn't the one to blame. You don't need to attack Barak. If you want, you can address the prime minster."
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