Yair Golan, chairman of the far-left "Democrats" party, embarrassed his bloc members during an interview he gave this evening (Saturday) to the "Meet the Press" program on Channel 12 when he stated that he supports forming a government with Ra'am and said that Mansour Abbas is a "good partner.".
Golan said: "You mentioned Mansour Abbas. Mansour Abbas was a good partner in the 24th Knesset, he was a good partner in that government. I think Naftali Bennett can testify to this firsthand as someone who was prime minister, Avigdor Lieberman knows this well.".
But Avigdor Lieberman sought to disqualify him.
""So I want to say that what you do before the elections, I understand, everyone has to bring their voters. I know one thing, that the day after these elections are over, we will face a very, very simple dilemma, which in my opinion is not a difficult dilemma - do we establish a government of repair and reconstruction or continue...""
With Raam?
""Yes, with Ra'am. Jewish-Arab partnership in the government is a positive thing. The Arab public treated our wounded who were lying in hospitals and saved their lives, the Arab public ran to the front to save people and suffered murder and killing themselves. I don't think you can say that it is unacceptable.".
Will Lieberman and Bennett eventually join the government with Ra'am?
""I will tell you one thing. I have tried and will continue to try to convince my future partners, whom I receive with great joy and enthusiasm, to convince them that a Jewish-Arab partnership is a positive thing for the State of Israel. That it is definitely our future, they represent 21 percent of the citizens of the State of Israel. We must not tell them, 'They are not.'".
Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman was quick to respond: "I repeat: No coalition will be formed with the Arab parties. Yair Golan is apparently under pressure from his party members and some of his voters following the vote to disqualify Balad Chairman Sami Abu Shehadeh. He has lost support on the Arab street, and now, in a desperate attempt to bring back voters, he is spreading things that are not true.".
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also responded: "Yair Golan is once again saying in his voice what his partners Eisenkot and Lieberman are trying to hide in every way. Together, the three of them will form a dangerous government, a Sazon government in partnership with the Arab parties. A government that will continue the tyranny of the judicial system, will evacuate the settlements and farms that we established, and will harm the Jewish identity of the State of Israel. This must not be allowed to happen - and only great and strong religious Zionism will prevent this from happening.".
Likud attacked: "Yair Golan is revealing the truth tonight: He and his partner Eisenkot will form a left-wing government with the Arab parties. The elections are about this: it's either the right or Palestine - only Likud will prevent the formation of a left-wing-Arab government of Eisenkot, Golan, Lieberman, Bennett and the Arab parties.".
