Netanyahu says opposition doesn’t want ‘real’ judicial talks, vows to ‘act responsibly’

Responding to opposition leaders’ decision to freeze talks with the coalition after today’s vote for the Judicial Selection Committee, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuses Yesh Atid chief Yair Lapid and National Unity head Benny Gantz of wanting to torpedo the negotiations from the outset.

“Today it finally became clear that Gantz and Lapid looked for any way to blow up the talks,” Netanyahu says in a video statement, his first public remarks since the vote.

Netanyahu says opposition representatives to the talks at the President’s Residence “rejected every proposal — even the most limited” that the coalition put forward.

“Gantz and Lapid don’t want real negotiations,” he charges. “I promise you that unlike them, we’ll act responsibly for our country.”