Thread by @LahavHarkov

The right-wing bloc party is getting underway

Friends of Netanyahu

Miki Zohar probably pushing Deri to compromise on religion and state

The eagle has landed

Netanyahu: This is an emergency. The heads of the factions, MKs, reps of large parts of israel, secular religious Jewish and not, bc this is a fateful moment in Israel’s history. Could be in next 48 hrs govt that depends on terror supporters. True danger to israel.

Netanyahu: Not talking about Israeli Arabs. Talking about the MKs who support terrorist orgs that want to destroy Israel.

Netanyahu talks about how Blue and White denied during the election that they’ll negotiate with the Joint List. Says they lied.

Says he hoped Blue and White will stop but every indication shows they’re still trying. “It’s so incomprehensible ppl have trouble understanding what it means. We just had a very successful operation. Head of Shin Bet said the starts were aligned for us to act against an enemy...

...If there was a minority Govt stars wouldn’t align. MK Tibi wouldn’t get in line. MK Cassif said we murdered - about an arch-terrorist!...This govt will severely harm Israel’s security.”

Netanyahu says Hamas, Hezbollah and the Iranians will be happy.

Netanyahu: Why are BW doing this? It’s not about religion and state...In the moment of truth Lapid would wear a streimel if he had to...He’d get another bris (lots of laughter). They want to be in charge before all else. They’d sit with Tibi but not the PM of Israel.

Netanyahu specifically calls out Hauser and Hendel as right-wing people, what got into you?

Says there’s still hope bc he had a good meeting with Liberman. Quotes liberman as calling Joint List fifth column. “I hope he won’t let a govt depending on terror supporters be formed”

Netanyahu calls for a unity government to avoid a third election.

Deri says he speaks for all of Shas and they will not join a minority government. They are for unity. “Shas will not save you,” he says to anyone who thinks they will falter.

Deri on Liberman-BW on religion and state: Their agreement would destroy the status quo of 71 years. It would be a new, secular country. This is a cynical attempt to divide people in order to justify a minority govt.

Deri says BW claims the problem is Netanyahu unwilling time leave his bloc but BW also refuses to be second in a rotation, therefore, they don’t really want unity.

Deri says he has a lot of respect for Gantz Ya’alon and Ashkenazi. Notably left Lapid out... Anyway, he says they’re missing the chance to be in the government bc of ego.

Bennett says Israel’s enemies are looking for our weaknesses, pointed out that Iranian leader said he supports minority govt to get rid of Netanyahu. Says the options are a government that negates Israel or a unity government for Israel.

Bennett: What is the distance between Gantz and Netanyahu? Certainly smaller than that between Ya’alon and Tibi. What happened? Is ego that important?

Litzman: UTJ is loyal to Likud and Netanyahu. Obviously we won’t join a left-wing govt.
Litzman turns to Likudniks: A lot of people lectured to us that we need to be flexible. You wouldn’t give up on Jordan Valley to get Gush Etzion, so how could we give up on our principles?

R Peretz calls Joint List terror supporters and says it’s not ok that BW is ruling out whole population groups.

Shaked is talking now. Says she thinks Liberman is trying to form a unity govt. “if we don’t succeed, we don’t need a 3rd election. It’s irresponsible. We need a budget. We can have a right wing govt like we did the last 4 years with parties that knew how to live together.”

Shaked: Tragedies in Israel happened because of political mistakes and too much pride.

Gafni: We are a strong bloc...It will be a problem for the children of Israel if the status quo is broken. We don’t want a different country. We want a Jewish and democratic state...we’re doing everything so Israel stays Jewish. We’re losing it! BW-Beytenu deal catastrophic

Gafni: God runs the world so in the end there will be a Likud government

Counterpoint: God works in mysterious ways

Smotrich was invited to speak, and he said he wrote what he thinks on twitter. So you can look here: @bezalelsm

Now @YuliEdelstein, who quips that he doesn’t tweet much. “The gaps can be bridged” between the bloc and Blue and White. “No one expects the other side to give up on the positions they presented to the public. We’ll find a solution.

Edelstein: A govt depending on those - regardless of ethnic background - who have not accepted Israel to this day.

Zohar is letting Sa’ar speak, there’s a murmur in the crowd.

Sa’ar: If we were to ask the public they’d say they want a unity govt. minority govt is far from unity, goes to the fringes and doesn’t allow us to deal w national security challenges and there’s no stability. Worst of all worlds.

Netanyahu while Sa’ar speaks

Now Barkat is speaking. Are there going to be 54 speakers (minus Smotrich)? Because there’s a limit to how many times I can hear the same talking points.

Ok, we’re done.