PM Netanyahu
Prime Minister Netanyahu gave an unusual interview this past Monday to News 12 during which he referred to the court cases against him, the election campaign and the battle against the Corona virus. He said that he believed that this time he would be able to muster a block of 61 mandates from the right wing of Israeli politics in order to establish a new stable government.
He was asked if he intended to promote the French Law which grants immunity to a sitting prime minister and would thus ease him out of the need to stand before the court. He replied, "I will not have to do this because the charges against me are fictitious and irrelevant." He added that "as this case runs its course, it is evident how fabricated it is, involving conflicting interests and the opening of charges without the certification of the attorney general contrary to the constitutional rights. I am not looking for any plea bargain because I know the truth."
Regarding the Corona crisis, he said, "The majority of the chareidi sector is very obedient, and the bulk of rabbonim have issued the call to the public to be vaccinated and to respect the necessary restrictions. To say that there are no infractions? These also exist in Arab settlements and among the secular public, including the Balfour Street demonstrations [against Netanyahu]."
Answering to the question of a future lockdown, he said that it depends on the public. "If Israeli citizens abide by the restrictions and we carry it out gradually according to the statistic rates, and if everyone goes to be vaccinated, not only will there be no need for another shutdown but we will be relieved from Corona altogether."
