Resignation storm: Member of Knesset Eli Avidar (Yisrael Beiteinu) announced last night that he was resigning from the government and returning to the Knesset. Avidar said that “immediately after the appointment I said I would continue in my position as long as there is content and I keep my word. Any self-respecting country plans 30 and 40 years ahead, needs a government that knows how to rise above extinguishing fires and improvisation.” On this, he was interviewed today (Wednesday) for News 13.
At the beginning of the interview he expressed satisfaction with the move: “Feels relieved. It came three months too late, it should have happened before.” He said that immediately after Elazar Stern resigned from his position at the Jewish Agency, government officials told him, “Wait, this minister will move, we will take it out, we will take it out, we will bring it and it did not happen.” “On the Kippak, a minister’s degree does not do it for me, an economic position does not do it for me, a diplomatic role does not do it for me. I came to politics to make an impact and we will do it from the Knesset,” Avidar added.
MK Avidar was asked whether if he had been appointed Minister of Intelligence and the Government had acted in a similar way, even then he would have resigned and replied: “I must apologize, I do not know how to sit quietly. “Since that explosion in the GSS, I have told both Bennett and Lapid that this issue of appointment is less relevant, since it is a policy that is difficult for me to live with. Obviously I would resign, where is the question at all?”
Later, Avidar was asked whether in his opinion, the current government is worse than the previous government and Bennett is a less good prime minister than Netanyahu: “The previous government and the alternative are a very bad thing for the people of Israel. This government is historic. “This is what made us be on the streets for a year and a half, seven days a week. It is impossible for this government to behave worse than the alternative. In some things, change things is inconceivable.”
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MK Avidar referred to the tense conversation with Finance Minister Avigdor Lieberman on the eve of the formation of the government: “There was a conversation and he wanted things to continue as usual. I thought things should not be as usual. He offered me other positions, it was a very emotional evening. He offered me an economic position. “Outside, it was an evening that summed up an important period. It was not easy and in emotions sometimes people say things they do not like the tone in which they said them, but that’s what it was.”
“Whenever in the future you are offered a job in a strong office with content, you will still refuse”?
“It will not happen. In this story there is no reason for it to happen because I do not blackmail the government into positions. I am the only one in this coalition who said from day one that I will do everything for this government to last four and a half years. There are elements in the coalition “Because there was no option on the other side.”
Asked whether he pledged to vote in the plenum according to coalition discipline, he replied: “I pledge that coalition discipline will not only be about the laws of blue and white, or Ayelet Shaked or other members of the coalition. Discipline should include everyone.” Avidar added: “I will return to the Knesset, I will talk to the coalition members, with the coalition leaders, we will reach agreements. It is important that there is a rotation, it is important that Yair continues to be prime minister until the end of the period.”
Finally, he was asked about his remarks that Bennett is not committed to the coalition and whether he will act to overthrow the government: “Bennett is committed. Our job is to make the government last four and a half years. This government must pass the defendant’s laws, will not help anyone. “One, preserves the relevance of Netanyahu. There is no chance that I will fall on the contrary, I will hold on. But I understand that it is difficult. Why? Because I bring an agenda that people want to forget.”