Netanyahu on far-right allies: Israel is not going to be governed by Talmudic law

Speaking to American journalist Bari Weiss, Benjamin Netanyahu says concerns about his far-right allies in the prospective new government are unwarranted, insisting he will continue to dictate policy and will not allow fringe positions to take the lead.

“The main policy or the overriding policy of the government is determined by the Likud and frankly, by me. I think I have more than a modest influence on it,” he says.

“I’ve often heard these doom projections [of dangers to democracy and liberalism], but none of them materialized,” he adds. “I maintained Israel’s democratic nature. I maintained Israel’s traditions.

“This Israel is not going to be governed by Talmudic law. We’re not going to ban LGBT forums. As you know, my view on that is sharply different [from those of the far right], to put it mildly. We’re going to remain a country of laws.”