Hotovely
Photo: Gil Yohanan
Tzipi Hotovely objects to Netanyahu canceling delegate visits
Deputy Foreign Minister Hotovely (Likud) comes out against PM Netanyahu's decision to retaliate against UN anti-settlement resolution by temporarily halting diplomatic relations with countries that voted in favor; MK Meir Cohen (Yesh Atid) set to offer bill aiming to have Israel provide legal defense to IDF soldiers sued at the International Court of Justice.
Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) came out against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's retaliatory order to cancel meetings and official visits with heads of state from countries that voted in favor of the recent UN resolution against settlement expansion. She is one of the few members in Netanyahu's government to criticize his decision.
"Canceling the visits was not a good idea," said Hotovely, who is considered close to Netanyahu. "We should greet the leaders and clearly explain why we are against the despicable decision the Security Council came to. We need to explain to them how much they're hurting their own interests."
Hotovely (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
Since the UN resolution's passing on Friday, Netanyahu has ordered to cancel scheduled visits of Ukraine's Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and Senegalese Foreign Minister Mankeur Ndiaye. Netanyahu also announced he would not be meeting British Minister Theresa May or Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang during the upcoming World Economic Forum to be held in the Swiss town of Davos. Additionally, the Foreign Ministry has announced that it has canceled the aid Israel intended to offer Angola, which included having an Angolan representative arrive in Israel for training.
"For 25 years, Israel has not protected the settlement enterprise on an ideological level," said Hotovely. "We said that we needed the land for security reasons and that a solution will come during negotiations. This created a reality where we abandoned the debate in favor of the Palestinian narrative, which saw it as conquered territory. We didn't conquer, this is the historic Land of Israel and we've returned to it. I agree with the prime minister that we need to express dissatisfaction with the outrageous decision, but I wouldn't cancel official visits. Instead, I would see them as an opportunity to explain Israel's position."
Sources within the Likud were outraged at Hotovely's remarks, claiming that her words can cause damage.
Hotovely's office attempted to mitigate the resulting criticism. "The deputy minister is allowed to have her own opinions, but she will accept any decision made by the foreign minister (Netanyahu)," said the ministry's statement. Netnayahu's office has not issued a responses.
The Ministerial Committee for Legislation is set to discuss on Sunday a bill submitted by MK Meir Cohen (Yesh Atid) that would have the State of Israel provide legal defense to soldiers if they were to be sued at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Though Cohen's party is currently part of the opposition, his bill was signed by members of both the opposition and the coalition. "There is no doubt that the Security Council's decision might open up the possibiliy of many lawsuits filed against IDF soldiers acting on the state's behalf," said Cohen. "The idea here is to provide them with protection. It seems natural in light of the fact that they are sent by the state to perform the most important of activities—guarding Israel. The state's commitment toward them should not end with the completion of their duties."
