Deputy Health Minister Yoav Kisch phoned former Likud minister Gideon Sa'ar after the press conference at which the latter announced he was forming a new political party to tell Sa'ar he was making a mistake and that he, Kisch, had no intention of joining him.
The man who a year ago was one of Sa'ar's biggest supporters when he ran against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for head of the Likud is no shaking him off, and claiming that Sa'ar's decision will mostly be a boon for the Left.
"I supported Sa'ar rather than Netanyahu [for Likud leader] because I was afraid the Right was going to lose power," Kisch tells Israel Hayom. "I saw that the opposition to Netanyahu among political players could cause him to be unable to form a government, making the election a failure. But I was wrong, and I'm happy I was. The Likud even managed to stay in power. The government might be problematic and hard to work with, but we didn't lose power and I hope that later on we'll be able to work like we should, with a functioning government."
According to Kisch, after last year's Likud primaries, he told Sa'ar that he thought he should stay with the party.
"He's making a mistake. I won't speak against him. He has a lot of talent and capability, but he's making a serious mistake by leaving the Likud."
Q: What did you expect him to do? Netanyahu took him out and didn't appoint him to a ministerial post even though he was elected to a high spot on the list in the primaries. Basically, showed him the door.
"I think that if Sa'ar stayed in the Likud, he'd be a viable candidate to lead the movement after Netanyahu. An appointment isn't the only thing that matters in politics. Because of the government that was formed, a decision was made to keep only those who were already ministers on the day it was formed and not appoint others. Gideon wasn't he only one who didn't get a cabinet post. It's a shame he was in a hurry."
Q: You're careful to be respectful of him, but now he might bring the Likud down.
"He said he wouldn't join a government under Netanyahu, and I think that's a mistake. This isn't the time for polarization and messages of division. There are big challenges like fighting COVID and the economic, diplomatic, and security situations."
Q: Has Sa'ar joined the left-wing bloc, like the Likud is claiming?
"I don't see him as a person with left-wing views. But if the Right can lead a government via the Likud and Netanyahu, and he opposes it, then he's against the Right. He doesn't have left-wing opinions, but he is no doubt working against the Right."
Kisch also thinks that chairwoman of the Knesset Corona Committee, Yifat Shasha-Biton – who has repeatedly advocated for policies that are not in line with what the government wants – should also resign.
"I think she did a lot of damage to Israel. She led populist decisions and prevented the Health Ministry from making decisions about the pandemic.
"Today the public realizes that these were populist decisions. Some think that COVID is all a conspiracy, delusional people, and they found a haven in her opinions. The vast majority understands how wrong she was and how faulty and dangerous her conduct was. Only last week, when asked if she would get the vaccine, she said no and started to say that there had to be proof it was safe. What kind of talk is that from a public leader?"
Q: You can't ignore the fact that there is a lot of criticism of how the COVID crisis has been handled.
"Despite what people think, it turns out we did well in the first wave. We made a mistake by ending the restrictions too quickly and we found ourselves in a second wave. The decision on a second lockdown was difficult and we saved the healthcare system. We need to make difficult, not populist, decisions, and Netanyahu proved that he was able to do that. His deep understanding of the importance of the vaccines and his immense personal push led to us receiving the vaccine quickly and shows how a prime minister can influence how the war on COVID and ending it can be faster [here] than anywhere in the world."
Q: When will things get back to normal?
"Based on the rate at which the vaccines arrive. There are two doses, [given] three weeks apart, and then there is another week while we wait for the vaccine to take effect. That brings us to the end of March, beginning of April, and then we'll start to get back to normal. Until then, we'll have to be able to handle the interim and it looks like we're going for rigorous restrictions, starting [this] week."
Q: What is the critical mass of vaccination that will take us out of COVID?
"At least 60% of the population for us to start freeing things up. Over 80% will lead us to reopen everything. There is always a challenge – in terms of health and the economy – and there are prices to pay, either way. The understanding that the vaccines are what can save us is what will give Israelis their routine back."
Q: Will there be benefits for those who get vaccinated?
"There will be a 'green passport.' It will apply to both the vaccinated and recovered COVID patients. It will allow holders to take part in events like shows, restaurants, things that will be open to vaccinated people only. The passport will be recognized internationally, and vaccinated people will be able to travel to countries that are currently closed to Israelis, and vice versa, with no need for quarantine."
Q: How will you convince the public to get vaccinated?
"We'll start with public leaders. The prime minister and health minister will get vaccinated first. After them, well-known doctors and other people of influence. We are fighting the fake news people want to disseminate. We'll issue the green passport, which offers those who hold it benefits. We'll get to those who are hesitant about vaccines and convince them."
