Saturday Jun 21, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home News Israel Politics

'Netanyahu is dragging Likud into the grave' official says

Ze'ev Elkin acknowledges that Netanyahu has done many great things for Israel, but warns "he has come to a dangerous point where he thinks that what is good for him is also good for the country."

by  Moria Kor and Ariel Kahana
Published on  12-30-2020 12:02
Last modified: 01-21-2021 08:17
'Netanyahu is dragging Likud into the grave' official saysYonatan Sindel

Ze'ev Elkin | Photo: Yonatan Sindel

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Ze'ev Elkin used to be a close confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but that all changed last week, when he announced he would be leaving Likud and join Gideon Sa'ar's New Hope party. 

  Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter

"I was desperate," the veteran lawmaker told Israel Hayom. "I couldn't bring myself to tell people to vote for Netanyahu, claiming that he will make the right decisions for the country.

"I saw no hope. Netanyahu rejected my proposal to postpone the elections and decided to go ahead and hold the fourth one. After Sa'ar resigned from Likud, he asked me to join him. The decision was not easy, but I had no other way of getting out of that vicious circle.

"I learned about Gideon Sa'ar's resignation from the Likud on TV," Elkin said, adding that in the past, he shared his frustrations about Netanyahu's decision-making process with Sa'ar, but the two never discussed forming a new party together. 

Elkin accused the prime minister of deliberately forcing the country to hold the third and fourth elections in hopes of escaping corruption charges.

"He thinks he will be better off if he is an acting prime minister during his trial, and if not, then at least the opposition leader. Netanyahu is dragging Likud into the grave. He will not leave the party even if he loses the election." 

Elkin acknowledged that Netanyahu has done many great things for Israel, but warns "he has come to a dangerous point where he thinks that what is good for him is also good for the country."

Elkin added that Blue and White are also to blame for dragging the country into its fourth elections in two years. He condemned Prime minister-designate Benny Gantz for asking Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn to resign.

"As soon as Nissenkorn leaves the Justice Ministry, the tragedy of the fourth elections will become a parody. Nissenkorn's insistence on remaining in office prevented the compromise between the Likud and Blue and White and could have prevented the fourth elections.

"The sad part is that this parody comes at our expense. It cost three billion shekels and three months." 

As for New Hope's chance to form a new government, Elkin said that if and when the mandate is imposed on Sa'ar, he will know how to form a government. "I promise you, as soon as Netanyahu is unable to establish [a government], we will be the ones who will do it. Gideon and I are both experienced politicians, and all the knowledge I gained through my work in the Knesset, I will invest in this."

Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!

Tags: Benjamin NetanyahuBenny GantzBlue and WhiteLikudZe'ev Elkin

Related Posts

Major reshuffle reportedly in the works amid Netanyahu-Gallant tensionsOren Ben Hakoon, Meytal Cohen, Tomer Neuberg/Flash 90

Major reshuffle reportedly in the works amid Netanyahu-Gallant tensions

by ILH Staff

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly contemplating a significant cabinet reshuffle, including the potential dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant,...

Defense budget committee faces tight deadline amid Smotrich-Gallant disagreementsOren Ben Hakoon, IDF Spokesperson's Unit

Defense budget committee faces tight deadline amid Smotrich-Gallant disagreements

by Yehuda Shlezinger

Israel Hayom learns that the two ministers remain at odds over the committee's scope, particularly regarding major military procurement decisions.

Netanyahu explores Defense Ministry shake-upNoam Revkin-Fenton/Flash 90

Netanyahu explores Defense Ministry shake-up

by Amir Ettinger

Sources tell Israel Hayom that the prime minister looked into the possibility of appointing Foreign Minister Israel Katz as the...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • Iran War
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il