Social Equality Minister Gila Gamliel: 'Netanyahu is here to stay'
Asked by Ynet about her opinions on PM Netanyahu's investigations, their future fallout and other potential leaders, Social Equality Min. Gamliel states, 'Why skip to conclusions before it is even relevant?'
Minister of Social Equality Gila Gamliel (Likud) spoke with Ynet about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's various investigations and the possibility that he would have to resign if an indictment is filed against him.
"Why skip to conclusions before it is even relevant?" she said. "After all, what's happening right now? The police have been investigating this for several months now, if they had enough solid evidence to file an indictment they would have already done so."
Min. Gamliel then noted that "from a legal standpoint, the investigation is still ongoing, and there are more and more people being interrogated. In this context, any reasonable person with minimal knowledge of the law understands that there is not yet enough solid evidence to present an indictment."
"We have to let the law enforcement agencies do their jobs and remember that not only for the prime minister, but for every citizen in the State of Israel, there is due process," she stressed. "The police will recommend an indictment, the State Prosecutor's Office will have to comb through all the findings that will be handed to them, and then it will be sent to the attorney general for a decision."
Gamliel stated that "once you topple a prime minister, it means opening up the entire issue of (going to—ed) elections, so any such process needs to be very carefully considered."
When asked iwhether she thinks Netanyahu would continue to serve for many years as prime minister, Gamliel replied: "Yes, there is no other reason at this time that he would not serve. The Likud gave him the mandate to run in the next elections as well. If there are any changes, we will deal with them when the time comes, but at this time certainly, there is no question at all (that he will continue to serve as prime minister)."
Finally, Gamliel considered the option of Netanyahu being replaced, and expressed her continued confidence in her party should that time come. "There is no doubt that there are potential future leaders among the ranks of the Likud, not as we saw in the other parties that had to import Avi Gabbay from the outside.
"All our ministers are really good potential candidates. There's (former Interior and Education Minister) Gideon (Sa'ar), there are other good people who see themselves as part of the potential future leadership, and I welcome this.
Nevertheless, Gamliel concluded, "The prime minister is not going anywhere. We'll wait and give him the rights he deserves."
