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Prime Minister Netanyahu
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After criticism from Netanyahu, Likud ministers rush to defend him

Ministers Yisrael Katz, Yuval Steinitz and Ofir Akunis and Deputy Minister Tzipi Hotovely have all posted support messages on their Facebook pages after dig by Netanyahu and threats from Coalition Chairman Bitan to 'settle the scores' with them in the primaries.

After criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and threats from Coalition Chairman MK David Bitan, more and more of Likud's senior minister have begun defending their party leader in the media.

 

 

Netanyahu is under investigation in two criminal cases: the so-called Case 1000 revolves around suspicious he and his family members received illicit gifts from wealthy donors, while the so-called Case 2000 concerns talks he had with Yedioth Ahronoth owner Arnon Mozes seeking more favorable coverage in return for weakening Yedioth's rival newspaper Israel Hayom.

 

Netanyahu's former chief of staff and close confidant Ari Harow signed a state witness agreement on Friday, further implicating the prime minister.

 

Netanyahu at a Likud party meeting (File photo: AFP)
Netanyahu at a Likud party meeting (File photo: AFP)

 

"I want to thank those who gave interviews," Netanyahu said with clear cynicism at a Likud ministers meeting on Sunday.

 

Culture Minister Miri Regev rushed to his support, saying, "We're all united under you."

 

Netanyahu's comment, as well as threats made by close confidant MK David Bitan on Saturday that "We'll settle the score" in the primaries with those who don't publicly back the prime minister, have led many of the Likud party's senior ministers to action.

 

Ministers Yisrael Katz, Yuval Steinitz and Ofir Akunis, as well as Deputy Minister Tzipi Hotovely, have all posted support messages on their Facebook pages.

 

A Likud official said the ministers who were "on the fence" have now realized which way the wind was blowing from the chatter on social media and so rushed to jump on the support bandwagon.

 

However, the official said, some of the messages of support were forces and were done "out of internal party considerations."

 

Bitan said Sunday that he was "ashamed of the ministers who did not come out to Netanyahu's defense. It's simply a disgrace."

 

He also announced a support event on Wednesday evening at the Tel Aviv Convention Center, and said he expected all of the ministers to attend. It's unclear whether Netanyahu himself will be in attendance.

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.07.17, 09:06
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