MK Avigdor Liberman, head of the right-wing secularist Yisrael Beytenu party, assails Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his pledge to annex parts of the West Bank.
In an interview with Channel 12 news, Liberman is asked about reports that the move, which Netanyahu was allowed to begin advancing on July 1 as part of his coalition deal with the Blue and White party, is being held up due to reservations in the Trump administration.
“We need to decide if we’re an independent country or a banana republic,” Liberman says.
Liberman, a former political ally of Netanyahu who broke with the premier during the last two election campaigns, says the Likud chief never intended to go forward with annexation and that he only pledged to do so to get votes.
Liberman is also asked what he thinks the chances are that Blue and White leader Benny Gantz will become prime minister next year, as part of his coalition agreement with Netanyahu.
Gantz has a better chance of being the prime minister of Mongolia than of Israel, Liberman claims.
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From the Liveblog of
Saturday, July 4, 2020
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