In spite of all expectations, Likud, the party of the incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has won in the early parliamentary elections in Israel. This party whose title is translated as “consolidation” has won 30 seats in the 120-seat parliament. The Zionist Union, a center-left alliance with Isaac Herzog at the helm, has won 24 seats.
In his speech in front of his supporters in Tel Aviv the Israeli premier called the results of the election a great victory. “Against all odds: a great victory for Likud,” Reuters quotes Netanyahu as saying.
Netanyahu reported that he had started consultations with the leaders of the right-wing parties on forming of a governmental coalition. “Citizens expect us to form a responsible leadership that will work for it, and that’s what we will do.” It should be noted that this will be the fourth term of Netanyahu on the post of the prime minister. So, he will be the longest-serving prime minister since 1949.
The leader of the opposition bloc Zionist Union recognized the victory of Benjamin Netanyahu. Earlier Herzog and number-two politician on the list of the bloc Tzipi Livni said that “this is not an easy morning” for the Zionist Union.
“I have spoken to Prime Minister Netanyahu and congratulated him. I want to tell the Israeli people that the challenges and problems remain. Nothing has changed. Tzipi Livni and I will continue to be the energetic leaders of the Zionist Union as an alternative on a variety of questions,” Herzog noted.
During the election campaign Netanyahu said that the need to solve the security issues is the most important thing for Israel, whereas the opposition made an emphasis on the socioeconomic problems.
The Day asked the Ambassador of the State of Israel to Ukraine Eliav BELOTSERKOVSKY to comment of the results of the election.
Mr. Ambassador, in your opinion, has Netanyahu managed to win in the election because everyone had predicted the victory for the center-left Zionist Union?
“Yes, that’s true. But in Israel the results are always quite unpredictable and polls not always reflect the people’s opinion correctly, all the more so there are many people who make their decisions at the very last moment and don’t think about this because they are busy with something else. Therefore the surveys not always show the true picture.”
Even Prime Minister Netanyahu has called this voting a great victory for Likud, noting that this result has been achieved in spite of all the obstacles. What can you say about the meaning of this victory for Israel and for democracy?
“The election was absolutely democratic. We have a democratic system, which means that people make their choice. And they have made it. It means this is the will of people. Everyone accepts this. We have a coalition, and there will be the opposition, too. Of course, it will use every political means to fight against the government, like in any democratic country. There are people who have voted for Likud, they are happy. There are people who have voted against it, they are not so happy. This is a firmly established rule of a democratic game, therefore the elections are held and a government is being formed. There are people who support it more and there are people who support it less. In four years another election takes place. Sometimes there is a change, sometimes not.”
Commentaries in mass media often say that there will be a strong coalition. Can you say how strong it will be?
“I think at the moment it is hard to speak about some structure, but at the beginning it seems that coalition with more general characteristics to develop a joint approach is being formed. There will be no serious fundamental disparities between the potential members of the coalition.”
On what questions will there be a joint approach?
“On the most burning issues in Israel. First, it is the question of foreign policy, the question of regulating the conflict, and the economic problems we have. The issues we are facing are very serious. It is important how the government is going to solve these questions; it must be strong to be able to cope with these tasks, because this is an important and critical time for Israel. And the stronger the government, the more possibilities there will be to tackle these tasks.”
It is known that Netanyahu staked on security issues and non-recognition of the State of Palestine, whereas the Zionist Union stressed the life issues, such as decreasing the prices for dwellings. How will all of these problems be solved?
“There are election campaigns. When a party takes part in an election struggle, it makes emphasis on certain fields, in which it is interested to highlight the election programs. I think all these parties, especially the big ones, understand very well how important the questions of foreign and home policies are. I don’t see any special difference about this, this is just a question of election tactics. Every party has an approach of its own.”
Is Netanyahu’s tactics like staking on security issues more appealing to the Israelis?
“I don’t know for sure, but of course the questions of foreign policy and security are very important in Israel.”
What can you say about the statement made by Herzog, the main opponent of Netanyahu, for the interview to Haaretz: “I am sure that only a government of national unity can prevent the quick decay of Israeli democracy and holding new elections in the near future”?
“Look, we have a practice of policy of national unity, when there is a joint government consisting of the Labor Party (now called the Zionist Union) and the Likud Party. At the moment it is hard for me to assess the possibility of forming such a government. But there have been precedents.”
How will the results of the election influence the solution of the Arab-Israeli conflict? Netanyahu in his election campaign stated that Palestine state mustn’t exist.
“I think it is too early to say what the approach will be like. But I think that the main question is whether the Palestinians will have leaders with enough political will to find some solution. At the moment we cannot see that the political leaders of the Palestinian autonomy have any such will. If they did, the solution could have been found with Netanyahu or others, it does not matter. We have had other prime ministers before Netanyahu, but any solution has not been found. So, I think that the main issue here is not about who the prime minister of Israel is, but about the need for the leaders of the Palestine autonomy to very clearly express their intentions and prove not only with words, but actions as well that they want to find a way for peaceful regulation.”
How will the relations between Israel and Ukraine develop? Now, after the Russian aggression our country understands your country better, and many people say that Ukraine must become another Israel in terms of security issues.
“I think Ukraine is one of the most important partners in this region for Israel, and no matter what government we have, our country will continue to have close relations with Ukraine and cooperate with Ukraine in different fields. I expect no changes here. We will try to make our cooperation even closer.”
Is it possible that Israel will deliver weapons, reconnaissance means, and drones to Ukraine?
“Mr. Siruk, you know well that we don’t discuss these issues.”
