Peretz: I'll work to build alternative to Netanyahu
Environmental Protection Minister holds press conference to explain resignation from government, says he maintained post as long as there was prospect of diplomatic negotiations.
Environmental Protection Minister Amir Peretz held a press conference Sunday following his resignation from the government and elaborated on the reasons behind his decision to resign from the government: "Netanyahu and I are two political figures who have been standing on opposing sides for many years," Peretz said.
His resignation came as tensions in Israel and the coalition were at a record high, with Prime Minister Netanyahu sparing with centrist Finance Minister Yair Lapid over the shooting of a Arab youth by the police. Peretz, a member of the Hatnua party, resignation is not expected to lead his party to leave the government, but does not bode well for Netanyahu.
"We have different views regarding the political and economic fields. Recently, he returned to his polarizing statements. I will do all I can to build an alternative to Netanyahu," the departing minister said.
Recently, Peretz stated that "Netanyahu's hourglass has run out," and that he could not sit in a government that encourages the use of inflammatory language instead of working to calm the situation.
Sources close to Peretz said the last straw came when during events marking the anniversary of the assassination of slain prime minister Yitzhak Rabin, Netanyahu made speeches that Peretz felt were only inflaming tensions.
Before the current Knesset session began, Ynet reported that Netanyahu could be laying the groundwork for an early election in a bid to consolidate his power by replacing centrists elements in the coalition with the ultra-Orthadox haredi factions.
On Sunday, the departing minister said that he had "made the decision to join Netanyahu's government to give it a chance, so I could tell myself that contrary to the claims made about me – that I rejected him due to personal, and not ideological reasons – I decided to give him a chance."
"During the first year, as long as negotiations took place, I saw a need for me to stay in the government. But during the past three months, both the situation and the spirit of the government have changed."
"Benjamin Netanyahu has been using the same statements he has used throughout the entire period of his political life for a long time – statements that are polarizing, that indicate a lack of any chance of reaching an agreement. I call on all political figures to unite in order to offer an alternative. Netanyahu is not the solution – he is the problem."
Peretz, who left the Labor party ahead of the last elections to join Tzipi Livni's Hatnua, also said that his decision to resign decided to resign over the state budget that he dubbed as "anti-social."
Peretz also said he would not support the state budget, which is to be tabled for parliamentary approval on Monday. According to him, "governments that continue building in settlements, don't advance a diplomatic process and put out a budget with no tidings – is a government I cannot support."
Peretz announced his intention to resign on Meet the Press on Saturday, following which reports arose that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was considering firing Peretz ahead of the vote on the budget.
"I did everything I could to promote a diplomatic process and fight for the dignity of Israelis," he wrote on his Facebook page on Saturday, saying there was "deterioration" on all fronts – diplomatic, social and economic.
"I have no intention of continuing to serve the policies of Netanyahu, who has become a prisoner to the right-wing," he said.
AFP contributed to this report.
