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Netanyahu and Bennett avert coalition crisis over West Bank settlers
A statement last night by Israel’s Economy Minister and Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett was accepted as an apology by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, diffusing an argument over the future of West Bank settlers which threatened Bennett’s position in the government.
At the start of the week, an official from the Prime Minister’s Office suggested that under a peace accord, “settlers be given the free choice of remaining in place and living under Palestinian rule, or relocating to areas under Israeli sovereign rule.” Bennett sharply criticised the idea of Jewish Israelis living under Palestinian sovereignty as “very dangerous and reflects a loss of marbles and values.” Continuing the theme on Tuesday, Bennett said “our forefathers and our descendants will not forgive an Israeli leader” responsible for such a scenario.
In response to Bennett’s criticism, Netanyahu’s office yesterday issued an ultimatum saying Bennett could make a public apology by 10am Sunday morning or be dismissed from government. Unnamed sources close to Netanyahu were widely quoted saying “no one will teach Netanyahu what is the love of Israel, or what is necessary for Israel’s security.”
At a speech later in the day, Bennett said “There are people who are trying to turn a significant debate about the future of our land and its security into a personal attack that never happened, and if the Prime Minister was insulted, that was not my intention,” adding “I respect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his leadership under difficult conditions.” Although Bennett’s office later denied he had made an explicit apology, Netanyahu apparently accepted the comments as such, with relations between the two seemingly smoothed for now. Jewish Home Minister Uri Ariel is said to have mediated the crisis throughout the day.
Speaking yesterday at the Institute for National Security Studies conference, President Shimon Peres appeared to accuse Bennett of unnecessary scare tactics over Palestinian rule, while Labour leader Isaac Herzog commented that “Bennett’s vision is a bi-national state” which he himself doesn’t want.