Netanyahu and Lapid
Photos: Gil Yohanan, Ohad Zwigenberg
Netanyahu slam Lapid: 'He's a left winger'
Comments made at a Likud party meeting during which the prime minister slammed Lapid's refusal to sign a petition calling for a discussion to be held on the suspension of MK Basel Ghattas; I'm not surprised. He heads a left-wing party.'
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu heaped criticism on Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid Monday during a Likud party conference for apparently refusing to sign a petition calling for a discussion to be held on the suspension of MK Basel Ghattas (Joint List), who is being summoned for investigation on suspicion of smuggling cellphones to Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
“I heard that Yair Lapid instructed members of his party not to sign a document calling for the convening of a discussion for removing Ghattas from the Knesset,” Netanyahu said in reference a petition currently being spearheaded by MK Minister of Jerusalem Affairs and Minister of Environmental Protection Ze'ev Elkin (Likud) to invoke the Suspension Law that was passed last summer.
Ze'ev Elkin (L) and Netanyahu (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
“It doesn’t surprise me. It is disappointing. It isn’t surprising because this is a left-wing man who heads a left-wing party.
While Lapid did say state that he would not put his pen to the petition, he also said that he did not instruct his party members what to do.
“Lapid is trying to disguise this simple position, but the simple truth is that Yair Lapid leaders a left-wing party and this is now revealed for all to see,” Netanyahu continued. “I hope that he will change his opinion but in any case it is the public that will decide his position.”
Regarding the suspicions against Ghattas, Netanyahu said, "I think the incident requires an in-depth investigation. If the suspicions are found to be correct, then it will constitute a very severe transgression against state security and the security of the state's citizens. Whoever harms Israel's security should be severely punished, and whoever identifies with those who seek to destroy Israel does not belong in the Knesset."
