Ya'alon: Northern Shield's timing was 'strictly political'
"I will not join a coalition led by Netanyahu, no matter what."
By GIL HOFFMANUpdated: DECEMBER 30, 2018 00:17Former Defense Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon in Haifa.(photo credit: Courtesy)
Former defense minister Moshe Ya’alon confirmed reports that he intends to run in the April 9 election on a joint list with former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz in a speech Saturday night in Haifa.Ya’alon hinted that more parties would join the bloc. He and Gantz have met recently with the leaders of the new Achi Israeli party, Adina Bar-Shalom and Gideon Sheffer.When asked at the event why he decided to run together with Gantz, Ya’alon said “Israel’s main threat is internal.”Among the candidates rumored to be on Ya’alon’s unnamed list – which will run together with Gantz’s Hosen L’Israel (Israel Resilience) party – are former cabinet secretary Zvi Hauser and journalist Yoaz Hendel.Channel 10 reported on Friday night that a political figure sent a private investigator to find information on Gantz.Ya’alon criticized Operation Northern Shield, claiming that the timing was “strictly political,” in the speech in Haifa on Saturday.“I will not join a coalition led by Netanyahu, no matter what,” Ya’alon added. “I have nothing against the Likud, but I cannot tolerate Netanyahu’s extremism. Once, the division between Left and Right was strictly economic. Now if you support Netanyahu you’re right wing, and anyone who criticizes him, even people like President Reuven Rivlin, are considered left wing.”Alon Einhorn contributed to this report.
