Tensions high after Bennett criticizes
Netanyahu for a quote attributed to a PMO official on the future of
settlers in a Palestinian state • Netanyahu associates: As a minister,
Bennett has not notched even one achievement.
Tensions are running high
between Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett and Prime Minister
Benjamin Netanyahu
|
Photo credit: Dudi Vaaknin |
Tensions between Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu and Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett ratcheted up a
notch on Monday, after Bennett harshly criticized Netanyahu for a quote attributed to a Prime Minister's Office official saying that Netanyahu believes settlers should have the right to remain in their homes in a future Palestinian state.
After Bennett said the idea reflected "an
irrationality of values," Netanyahu associates responded with anger on
Monday, saying that the Habayit Hayehudi chairman would "pay a price for
his conduct."
"Instead of Abu Mazen [Palestinian Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas] falling into a pit, with his rejectionism [of
peace] exposed for all to see, it was in fact a senior minister
[Bennett] who fell into the pit," Prime Minister's Office officials
said.
Netanyahu associates did not say how the prime
minister intended to deal with Bennett or whether he would summon
Bennett for a rebuke. But a Likud source said Bennett would indeed be
called in by the prime minister for a rebuke.
Netanyahu associates slammed Bennett on
Monday, saying Netanyahu "will not ignore Bennett's scathing and rude
style" of behavior toward him.
"Bennett is acting with unprecedented
impertinence and insolence toward the prime minister," one said. "A
government cannot function when a minister undermines the leader of the
government."
Netanyahu associates accused Bennett of torpedoing an effort by Netanyahu to draw Abbas into a trap.
"Bennett fell into the trap and sabotaged an
effort to prove to the world that the Palestinian Authority is infected
with racism and anti-Semitism," one said.
"During the year that Bennett has been in the
government, he has not been able to notch for himself even one
achievement," the Netanyahu associates said. "He promised to take care
of the cost of living, but he has not done anything. Over the course of
the year, he has been riding on the successes of other ministers in the
government and presenting their achievements as his own, such as the
port reforms, which he did not have a hand in."
The prevailing question in the Israeli
political world on Monday was why Bennett, a member of the
Diplomatic-Security Cabinet, rushed to criticize Netanyahu over an
anonymous quote that was not confirmed by any official source. It later
became clear that the quote was a trial balloon, meant to expose Abbas'
peace rejectionism. Israeli political officials wanted to show the
Americans and the world that Abbas rejects virtually every proposal
placed on the table, as the Palestinian leader seeks to keep the peace
negotiations from moving forward.
Likud minister Silvan Shalom said the quote in question was made for "internal tactical needs, nothing more."
Another Likud official said, "If Bennett is so uncomfortable in the government, he can quit."
Israeli political officials said, "Bennett
behaved like a 'talkbackist,' not a senior cabinet minister. Government
ministers have numerous means at their disposal to check whether such
unofficial quotes were actually said, and if they represented the views
of the prime minister. Instead, Bennett again preferred to grab
headlines and possibly even cause damage Israel's moves in the
international community."
There was also criticism leveled at the Prime
Minister's Office on Monday, which did not move to quickly deny the
quote that was attributed to one of its officials. Likud sources said,
"There are some things that are not to be said, even within the
framework of diplomatic negotiating tactics. The very fact that these
statements were made was dangerous, and the Prime Minister's Office
should have immediately denied them.
"The prime minister must instruct all
ministers, including Bennett and other Habayit Hayehudi ministers, not
to make statements on diplomatic issues during the course of the
negotiations, so as to prevent [ministers from] stepping on other mines
and thwarting Israel's efforts to present the Palestinians as peace
rejectionists."
In response, Bennett associates said,
"[Bennett] will be happy to meet with the prime minister any time he is
invited to, in order to continue to cooperate on their common concern
for the security of the State of Israel and its citizens, wherever they
live."
Regarding the Prime Minister Office's quote
that sparked the controversy, Bennett associates asked, "Why were
ministers not briefed that the statements coming from the Prime
Minister's Office were designed as negotiating tactics? The prime
minister should realized ahead of time that if he made such unusual and
extreme statements, right-wing ministers, led by Bennett, would speak
out strongly against them."
Meanwhile, former Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen.
(res.) Amos Yadlin said on Monday that the chances for an
Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement are low, but that the chances of
another violent intifada are also low. Yadlin, now the head of the
Institute for National Security Studies, presented his outlook for 2014
on Monday, saying, "If the negotiations fail, Israel should propose a
unilateral step of withdrawing from 85 percent of Judea and Samaria."
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