Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid vowed on Monday to fight against the unity government being formed between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, even if that means helping the incumbent.
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Lapid took aim at his former ally Gantz, ridiculing him for agreeing to sit in a unity government based on Netanyahu's promise that they would both serve as prime minister.
Lapid said that the special legislation to ensure a rotating premiership would not be implemented because Netanyahu was a "political crook," adding that he would support Netanyahu if the latter tries to nullify it, which would in fact strengthen Netanyahu's hold on power.
"If at any moment, Netanyahu decides not to carry out the rotation, all he has to do is come to us and ask us whether we want to nullify the special law and bring back the old law, and let me tell you something – of course we will say yes," Lapid said. "We will do so because we respect democracy and we think these disgraceful laws [to implement the rotation deal] are terrible and should be canceled."
After this statement, Lapid was criticized by Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman, who said that he was "surprised to hear" of his support for Netanyahu's maneuver to avoid a rotation with Gantz.
Lapid then clarified: "Avigdor, you know me. Saving Netanyahu is not on my agenda. The only one who has saved Netanyahu is Gantz, and if one year from now, after the coronavirus crisis is over, an opportunity comes by in which we can topple the government, of course we will topple it."
