David Bitan
Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg
Coalition chair says democracy not needed in Likud party
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Ynet, David Bitan explains why Likud has clamped down on new admissions to the party, charges new members, who he dubs 'new Likudniks' are deliberately attempting to flood the party in a bid to topple Netanyahu from within; 'We don't need democracy...We have the right to defend ourselves.'
Likud MK and Coalition Chairman David Bitan said Thursday the Likud party "does not need democracy,” while vowing to keep the door shut on anyone who is attempting to carry out “a coup or takeover” against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Bitan’s comments were made in a defiant display designed to shield Netanyahu from being toppled by a fifth-column, as the Israeli premier finds himself embroiled in a string of corruption investigations and with Likud opponents calling for his resignation, and precarious support being offered by party activists.
David Bitan (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg)
“First of all, the party needs to take care of itself internally. We are not a body that needs democracy,” Bitan said in an interview with Ynet.
Bitan targeted what he described as “new Likudniks,” who he said were attempting to flood the party in their thousands and who would, given the opportunity, carry out a "hostile takeover" of the Likud.
In an effort to nip such potential threats in the bud, Bitan said that the party had already began restricting the ways in which people can join the party. To that end, people wishing to join the party can no longer do so via the internet.
“Don’t expect us to open our doors to people who pretend to be for the Likud. That is inconceivable,” Bitan continued. “With all due respect, what is democracy and Likud? We are a body organized for a specific purpose. We are not a body of government or a body affiliated with a government that needs democracy or rules of freedom of speech and that sort of thing.
“First and foremost the party needs to take care of itself. If I bring 3,000 people to Meretz can I control them?” he asked.
Bitan went on to describe the phenomenon of attempting to flood the party with these so-called ‘new Likudniks,’ as being "anti-democratic and criminal."
“A person who doesn’t believe in the values of the Likud and comes in purely so he can blow it up and change it in a way that will harm it is criminal in every way,” he charged. “We have the right to defend ourselves against hostile control.”
Moran Azulay, Attila Somfalvi and Alexandra Lukash contributed to this report.
