Breaking News

Up to 200,000 people estimated to travel to Vermont for total solar eclipse How fast will April’s total solar eclipse travel? The UN Security Council demands a ceasefire in Gaza during Ramadan Mexico in the emerging world order Pennsylvania State Guard Organizes Lithuanian Foreign Minister US Abstention from UN Security Council Resolution on Gaza – US State Department USA beats Mexico 2-0 thanks to goals from Adams and Reyna to win 3rd consecutive CONCACAF Nations League Mexico x United States | Highlights Meaning | The Case for American Intervention in Haiti Julian Assange to hear results of key US extradition ruling

Yair Lapid delivered his first televised speech as prime minister on Saturday night, decrying “extreme, violent and vicious” speech in Israeli politics and urging unity and respectful public debate, ahead of the country’s fifth election in three Years and a half.

Speaking from the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, Lapid said that Israel seeks peace with the Palestinians, but will take resolute action against anyone who “seeks our demise,” particularly to thwart Iran’s nuclear program.

Lapid, who succeeded Naftali Bennett on Friday and became Israel’s 14th prime minister after the dissolution of the Knesset, is serving on an interim basis until a new government is formed after the Nov. 1 election, though that Voting could stall again and extend the country’s political stalemate for years.

“The State of Israel is bigger than all of us. More important than any of us. It was here before us, and it will be here long after us,” he said on Saturday, adding: “We must choose the common good; what unites us There will always be disagreements, the question is how do we handle them and how do we make sure we don’t get handled.”

“The big Israeli question is actually why in a period where we have broad national agreement on all major issues, are the levels of hate and anxiety within Israeli society so high? Why is polarization more threatening than ever? he continued.

Get the daily edition of The Times of Israel

by email and never miss our best stories

By signing up, you agree to the terms

“The answer is: politics. In Israel, extremism does not come from the streets into politics. It’s the opposite. It flows like lava from politics to the streets. The political sphere has become increasingly extreme, violent and vicious, dragging Israeli society down with it. We must stop this. This is our challenge.”

Stone speech, full text: We must stop the flow of extremism from politics to the streets

That was an apparent reference to the rhetoric spearheaded by opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been leading a vitriolic campaign against the ideologically diverse government that ousted him from power a year ago, focusing particularly on Lapid and Bennett’s willingness to form a coalition with the Islamists. Ra’am Festival.

Lapid opened his speech by thanking his predecessor Bennett, with whom he had signed a power-sharing agreement for a leadership rotation, for the “orderly transition of power.”

“I want to start by thanking the 13th Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Naftali Bennett. For your decency, for your friendship, and for leading the government last year to economic and security achievements not seen here for years,” he said, adding “a special thanks for allowing the citizens of Israel this week to see a orderly transition between people who maintain agreements and believe in each other”.

It was a blow to Netanyahu, who broke a 2020 power rotation deal with Benny Gantz and who last year only held a brief 30-minute transition meeting with incoming Prime Minister Bennett.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett briefing his successor Yair Lapid at the Prime Minister’s Office, June 30, 2022 (Haim Zach/GPO)

Lapid laid out what he said should be the Israelis’ shared goal: “A Jewish, democratic, liberal, great, strong, advanced and prosperous Israel.”

“We believe that Israel should be a liberal democracy in which every citizen has the right to change the government and determine the course of his life. Nobody can be denied their fundamental rights: respect, freedom, freedom to work and the right to personal security,” he said.

“We believe that Israel is a Jewish state,” he added. “His character is Jewish. His identity is Jewish. Its relations with its non-Jewish citizens are also Jewish. The book of Leviticus says: “But the foreigner who lives with you will be to you as born among you, and you will love him as yourselves.”

“We believe that the Israeli economy should be based on free market principles, on the creativity and dynamism of Israeli technology, and that our job is to protect the have-nots. Provide a fair opportunity for all children, everywhere.”

In a markedly different stance from Netanyahu’s on peace talks with the Palestinians, Lapid said: “We believe that as long as Israel’s security needs are met, Israel is a peace-seeking country. Israel reaches out to all the peoples of the Middle East, including the Palestinians, and tells them: the time has come for you to recognize that we will never move from here, let us learn to live together.”

Referring to the normalization agreements with Arab countries signed by the previous Netanyahu government, and hinting at possible similar futures, Lapid said: “We believe there is a great blessing in the Abraham Accords, a great blessing in security and economic boost.” created in the Negev. Summit with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Morocco, and that there will be a great blessing in the agreements to come.”

Such a deal with Saudi Arabia is reportedly in the works, with US President Joe Biden due to visit both countries later this month.

Lapid paid tribute to “our greatest friend and ally, the United States” and vowed to harness the international community in the “fight against anti-Semitism and the delegitimization of Israel.”

Lapid said Israel’s gravest threat was Iran, vowing: “We will do whatever it takes to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear capability or gaining a foothold on our borders.”

“I say to all those who seek our disappearance, from Gaza to Tehran, from the shores of Lebanon to Syria: do not put us to the test. Israel knows how to use its force against every threat, against every enemy,” he warned.

Benjamin Netanyahu speaks in the Knesset ahead of the vote to dissolve parliament, June 30, 2022. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

Netanyahu’s Likud party issued a response criticizing Lapid’s speech, saying it did not address the “crazy” rise in prices over the past year and claiming he was trying to “hide the fact that the only government he can form is with the Muslim Brotherhood and the Joint List.” The predominantly Arab Joint List party has never been in an Israeli coalition government.

“On Friday, it was revealed that he sent his chief of staff Naama Schultz to the [Islamic Movement] Shura Council with an open check,” the Likud statement said, referring to comments made by a former diplomatic adviser to Bennett in connection with the attack. Muslim body to which the Ra’am party adheres.

“Such a government is a real danger to Israel’s security,” Likud said. “The choice is either a blackmailed Lapid government that includes the Muslim Brotherhood and the Joint List or a strong national government led by Netanyahu and Likud that will restore hope to Israel.”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *