Netanyahu hits back at Palestinians for ISIS comparison, warns of Iran
Likud also retaliates after Lapid calls Netanyahu a 'diplomatic coward' for not disarming Gaza Strip after the summer war; Netanyahu's comments come after Saeb Erekat says Israel like ISIS.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hit back at the Palestinian Authority's cheif negotatior Saeb Erekat Saturday, slamming him for comparing Israel to the Islamic State group.
"This is the same PA that joins hands with Hamas, incites constantly against Israel, the kind of incitement that has led to an attack that we witnessed just two days ago of a Molotov cocktail thrown at a little girl... the same PA is going to try to bring to the UN Security Council a resolution that seeks to impose on us conditions that will undermine our security," Netanyahu said after meeting with US Senator Lindsey Graham.
The prime minister also warned of the threat entailed by a new suicide drone presented by Iran: "Iran today conducted an exercise with a suicide drone. I don’t have to convince you, Senator, that the most important task before us is to prevent this dangerous regime from having nuclear weapons. And I believe that what is required are more sanctions, and stronger sanctions.
The Likud hit back against Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid, who accused Netanyahu of "diplomatic cowardice" earlier Saturday, saying Lapid was "hysterical" and a "failed politician."
"The massive security challenges facing Israel require an experienced leader, responsible and determined. Everything else is just the empty words of a failed politician, who is frustrated and hysterical," the party said.
Lapid slammed Netanyahu over the summer Gaza operation, saying the prime minister lacked the diplomatic bravery to disarm Gaza once and for all.
The Likud further said that at the time of the operation, Lapid himself supported the policy, which they dubbed "aggressive yet responsible."
Speaking at a cultural event in Holon, Lapid said that no diplomatic effort was made after Operation Protective Edge ended. "Netanyahu feared that we did not appear sufficiently determined during the operation, and as such, going to the Gaza donors conference would have been perceived as weakness on our part. No effort was made, and that is a mistake. This is (part of) the prime minister's continuous attempts to not do anything. If you aren't doing anything, why are you in power?"
Lapid added that he has no doubt Netanyahu will aim to increase the number of cabinet ministers if elected as prime minister again. "Before we arrived there were 30 ministers, 3 ministers without portfolio. We stopped that – in this government there were 21 ministers and none without portfolio."
If Netanyahu wins, Lapid added, "there won't be an equal share of the burden of military service, the national program for Holocaust survivors will be cancelled, and "the government will consist of 30 ministers again."
"We won't let him undo everything we worked for," Lapid said.
Likud MK Danny Danon, who is running against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in their party's leadership primary, was also present at the event, where he stressed the importance of a show of support from party leaders for a candidate for prime minister.
"I call on Kahlon, Lieberman and Deri, whose majority of voters are from the national camp, to gather courage and tell us if they support a right or left-wing government. I am positive that any voter from the national camp will feel that he has been deceived if it turns out that his vote was shifted from the right to the left."
