Lieberman 'tells it how it is': Eliminate Hamas and get rid of Abbas
Yisrael Beytenu launches new campaign slogan which includes the slogan 'Ariel for Israel, Umm al-Fahm for Palestine.'
Yisrael Beytenu chairman and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman promised his voters to "tell it like it is" on Thursday morning, once again calling to oust both Hamas in Gaza and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank.
Lieberman's 2015 campaign slogan, revealed on Thursday, is: "Tachles Lieberman! Telling it how it is." Tachles is a yiddish variation of the Hebrew word tachlit, which means "essence" and is widely used in Israeli slang as meaning "give it to me straight" or "to tell the truth/be honest."
"We must eliminate Hamas and get ride of Abu Mazen (Abbas). To tell it like it is, without stuttering. I saw reports that the Likud and Bennett have committed to the Orthodox and will cancel the Burden Equality Law and change the decision on conversion. If these are the guidelines, we will not join the government," Lieberman said.
The new slogan will be accompanied by the sentence: "Ariel for Israel, Umm al-Fahm for Palestine." The sentence reflects Lieberman's view that Israel should keep the settlement in any future accord with the Palestinians and, in turn, hand over the Arab populated city located in the Haifa district.
Lieberman said on that 65 people had offered to run for the Yisrael Beytenu list and that he aspires the party to receive 16 mandates.
"I don’t reject any faction. The time has come for us to reject one another as little as possible. I never committed myself to anyone. I want to see the guidelines for the next government. If (the government) conducts negotiations with Abu Mazen – (Yisrael Beytenu) has nothing to look for, we will not be there. On the other hand, political fixation is not conductive for us; we are in favor of initiative," he said.
Lieberman said that what determined the underlying principle of the campaign was the video made by Mohammad Zoabi, a relative of MK Hanin Zoabi, that was posted during Operation Protective Edge in which he expresses his support of Israel. Mohammad was forced to run away from Israel because of the threats he received following the publication of the video, including from angry family members, but has since returned.
"People often speak of the Jews who are scared in Europe, and what bothered me was that we have gotten to the same situation in Israel," said Lieberman. "The very Arab teenager who supports Israel was forced to run away and does not receive protection – this is what we want to change. When Hanin Zoabi goes around with her head held high, the country protects here, but the boy must hide. This anomaly must end. There is no reason that inciters such as Zoabi, Tibi, and Raed Salah should be citizens of Israel," said Lieberman.
Lieberman added that his initiative was pragmatic. "We have reached a crossroads, and decisions must be made and we present a new diplomatic approach against a anarchistic approach that is being offered by others," said Lieberman.
Lieberman, whose party is under investigation and whose list for the Knesset faced turmoil after the resignation of senior members and ministers within the party, spoke of the new formation of Yisrael Beytenu.
"Half of the emerging list will be (composed of) new people. It will be based off those who developed within the party. It is clear that the list will be very young, especially the first ten," said Lieberman.
"I would ask those who left to stay, but the process of renewal is natural and it is important that it continues. The time has come for us to try to pass on the reins to the generation that grew up in the party. Yair Shamir is abroad, and when he returns we will sit together and make a decision," said Lieberman.
The foreign minister also addressed the recent investigation into Yisrael Beytenu and said that he has no problem with the investigation – only with the timing. "The police has the right to investigate, and whoever is found guilty will have to pay the price. My objections are regarding the timing and attempts to convict through the media," said Lieberman.
"As far as I'm concerned, this is the most political investigation in Israel – there is smoke with no fire. I'm sure that it is only a storm in a teacup, but who will it interest after the elections?" said Lieberman.
