Netanyahu to opposition heads: Dangerous statements, anarchy
During his party’s faction meeting on Monday, Liberman said “we hear endless talk of closure, but what we need is order."
By MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMAN, GIL HOFFMANYisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman(photo credit: MICHAEL LURIA)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a letter to the heads of the opposition factions in the Knesset accusing them of "harming Israel and encouraging anarchy."The letter was in response to Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman calling on the public to “act in accordance with common sense and not in accordance with government guidelines." But it was also addressed to opposition leader Yair Lapid, Joint List chairman Ayman Odeh and Yamina heads Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked."I saw with worry and pain irresponsible statements by you that weaken, divide and harm the unity of the public in the fight against the coronavirus," Netanyahu wrote. "Such dangerous and irresponsible statements by elected officials can bring about refusing to follow directives of the Health Ministry and police and - as a consequence - loss of life."Liberman and Lapid responded with letters of their own that Netanyahu failed at dealing with the coronavirus and Lapid wrote that he should resign. During his party’s faction meeting on Monday, Liberman said “we hear endless talk of closure, but what we need is order.“It is impossible that the citizens of the State of Israel should become hostages of [Interior Minister Arye] Deri, [Housing and Construction Minister Ya’acov] Litzman and [MK Moshe] Gafni," he said. "Coronavirus cabinet decisions are not made on the basis of scientific data, nor are they transparent or logical.”Liberman accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of sacrificing public health to ensure the stability of his coalition and “therefore all decisions made are blatantly illegal."I suggest the public act in accordance with common sense and not in accordance with government guidelines.”He also called on local authorities to appoint their own coronavirus commissioners to help manage the crisis.“The government has lost the public trust – and it does not deserve it,” Liberman concluded. “The coronavirus cabinet must be abolished.”
President Reuven Rivlin reprimanded Liberman for his remarks. "Calls for civil disobedience violate the principles that ensure our well-being, and the peace of the entire public, especially in times of crisis," he said. "Dealing with the coronavirus is all of our struggle – together."Leaders – opposition and coalition – please be careful what you say," he concluded.Health Minister Yuli Edelstein (Likud) accused Liberman of “playing with fire” and said that “Liberman is acting carelessly and irresponsibly while taking advantage of a fragile health and economic situation."Alternate Prime Minister Benny Gantz told his Blue and White faction in response to Liberman's comments that, "I hear politicians say not to adhere to decisions and I call upon them to safeguard the public and not themselves. I hear those making irresponsible declarations for political reasons."Gantz added: "The public is looking at us, at our conflicts and our ego struggles, and they expect us to put aside our personal interests and deal with the coronavirus."Deri, who himself voted against lockdowns on red cities, also responded: "Let there be no misunderstandings, we are committed to keeping all the directives and guidelines down to the tiniest comma."
