MK Mansour Abbas, chairman of the Ra'am party, confirms that the one who thwarted the formation of a joint government between the right and the Arab party is Minister Bezalel Smotrich.
In an interview he gave today to 103fm radio, Abbas said: "Smotrich is trying to present himself as a hero at Netanyahu's expense, and it seems to me that he will continue to drip-feed it, and it is true - Smotrich is the only one who prevented the formation of a right-wing-Ra'am government headed by Netanyahu together with Naftali Bennett.".
Abbas, who resumed talks to form a government in the spring of 2021: "I was invited to a meeting with Rabbi Druckman in coordination with Amit Halevi and the prime minister. I consulted with a rabbi who is a friend, I told him that I was invited to this meeting. He told me that Rabbi Druckman is not Smotrich's rabbi and that he would not listen to him. But if I was invited, why not have a conversation with Rabbi Druckman? I knew in advance that Smotrich does not listen and will not listen to Rabbi Druckman.".
Abbas remembers the conversation with the late rabbi positively. "I answered all the questions and left with a good feeling. It was a pleasant, good, and to-the-point conversation. I presented my opinions and my goals in the political process.".
Even the one who formed the government, in the end, was in on the secret of the matter. "Before Naftali Bennett turned to a change government, he gave me a chance. He asked me and I said I was ready too. At that time, the first option was a full-fledged right-wing government, but Netanyahu didn't succeed and the mandate went to Yair Lapid.".
Minister Bezalel Smotrich responded to the interview on his X account and wrote: "I don't usually say this, but listen to Mansour.".
