Danny Danon: Likud does not act like a ruling party

In an interview at the studio Voila! The MK from the Likud criticized his party’s conduct vis-à-vis the coalition partner (“one should not be moved by any ultimatum”) and Ben Gabir (“less talking – more doing”). Legal: “There is room to return to talks”

Knesset member Danny Danon from the Likud criticized in an interview with Walla! on the conduct of his party vis-à-vis the coalition partners. According to him, the Likud does not behave as a ruling party in the face of the conduct of ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir . “It started in the coalition negotiations and continued in the budget discussions, we felt that we were working for our partners, and this is not a partnership,” Danon said. “I call on Netanyahu to hold the reins and not be moved by any ultimatum every Monday and Thursday.”

Danon, who was Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, also referred to the tensions in relations with the United States, and denied that it was a crisis .Has not yet been invited to Washington. “This is a signal from the White House about their dissatisfaction,” he said. “In my opinion, they are wrong in their approach, the partnership between us is important to both Israel and the United States, and apparently this weakens everyone.”

In addition, Danon also referred to the American Secretary of State’s warning regarding normalization with Saudi Arabia , and replied: “We need American help with the Saudis, the involvement of the United States is important. I am optimistic and believe that there will be an agreement, the Americans have a desire to exert pressure. This is legitimate in international relations, but it It is an American interest to be involved in the region. I hope that during the Biden administration we can see a breakthrough with the Saudis.”

The Knesset member also said that the Americans reached quiet agreements with Iran regarding the nuclear deal , and criticized Netanyahu. According to him, “The prime minister needs to decide if he is going to come out strongly against this agreement, and he chose the quiet and diplomatic way. In 2015, he went to Congress, confronted the Obama administration, and this will not happen again. In my opinion, there is room to make a clearer and louder voice On this issue, because the agreements that are forming to transfer billions to Iran are dangerous for us. We are in a sensitive time with the United States and there is no international campaign on this issue.”

In the meantime, after Netanyahu claimed in an interview with the “Wall Street Journal” that the “surrogation” clause was dropped from the legal revolution plan, Danon claimed that the Americans are putting pressure on the government to reduce the reform. “The Prime Minister understands today that we failed in our approach – I supported the reform, but in a gradual way, today Netanyahu is leading it in this way,” he said. “I don’t think we should give up on the enhancement clause, it should be passed by consensus, maybe after the committee for the selection of judges, but clearly not take it off the agenda. The form in which the reform was presented hurt the Likud, so Netanyahu is now doing things in a phased manner and that’s good, but we must not give up on the principles and shelve the other things.”

“There is a place to return to the president’s house, it is possible to return to the discourse , this is important for the country. I talk with members of the opposition and see that it is possible to talk about things, also on the committee for the selection of judges, agreements can be reached,” continued Danon. “Gideon Sa’ar, Benny Gantz, and Lieberman also talked about it. We will choose a representative in two weeks, it will happen. The opposition should ask itself what they are fighting about. They chose Karin Elharer, we will choose our representative. This issue has calmed down, let’s talk about the other things.”

At the end of the coalition negotiations, Danon was among the Knesset members from the Likud who did not receive a position in the government, today he says that Netanyahu offered him positions, but he refused them. The Knesset member said that he was interested in the national security case, and criticized the current minister. “In terms of results, we are not succeeding – we need to talk less, and do more,” he said. “Netanyahu offered me positions recently as well. In practice, I feel that I can contribute much more in the foreign affairs and security committee, in subcommittees than being the minister for hot and cold water or the decoration committee. You don’t need to be a minister for that.”