Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu was interviewed by Kol Berama Radio’s Moshe Glasner on Monday 3 Marcheshvan, the first yahrzeit of Maran HaGaon HaRav Ovadia Yosef ZT”L.

Mr. Netanyahu began the interview with a reference to Maran, stating “I received many an affectionate slap from him. I remember him with a great deal of affection and appreciation. The rav was among the leading poskim of our generation. He assisted the agunos and so many others as he adapted halacha to our modern lifestyles and this is what halacha is supposed to do.

“His entire being was committed to Ahavas Yisrael, Toras Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael and I really appreciated the love that came from the depth of his heart. I would visit, even during his final days, and he would lean on his desk with his seforim writing. I felt a guilt for interrupting him and truly appreciated him. In every meeting with him I felt like I was a man who actually looked at the roots of Judaism. Torah has maintained us for thousands of years. Everyone understands this and I certainly understand this”.

The prime minister then turned his attention to the chareidi parties in Knesset, which are all in opposition today. “The simple truth is that not only did the opposition to bringing them into the coalition not come from me, I tried to overcome the resistance but we lacked sufficient power to do so – the simple numbers. At the end, the tzibur decided. I am not banishing the chareidim. That is absurd. I did not act this way in my public life and not in my private life”.

The prime minister then spoke of his connection to Torah and Tanach, and that he reads the sedra with his sons every week. “It is not an act and not the result of external pressure. It is genuine, deep and reflects just where I come from. I maintain the Tanach class in the name of my late father-in-law Shmuel Ben-Artzi, a class that was renewed by me and it is a most meaningful event”.

He rejects the harsh criticism from chareidim as if he is to blame for their exclusion from the coalition. “At times, they say things that do not accurately reflect reality” he added. “I believe they and their tzibur are aware of the truth” the prime minister added.

Regarding the Giyur Bill the prime minster stated “I wanted to maintain achdus of the nation and my intentions were clear. I did not wish to see the nation torn apart. However we need the voices which we do not always have.”

He added “I do not know if it’s practical to bring the chareidim into the coalition today”.

Regarding the Zero VAT Bill which is being strongly opposed by the chareidi parties, the prime minister stated “At times it is difficult to be influential from the outside. However I am trying my best to balance a number of suggestions that are strongly aimed against the chareidim. I speak about suggestions that will tear the nation apart”.

“I deal with Hamas, ISIS, Hizbullah and they are not interested in we are chareidim or secular so in the face of this the tribes of Israel will unite”.

The prime minister explains he is perplexed by statements that he does not maintain a dialogue with chareidi MKs when in fact he does speak and meet with them. “My wife works as a psychologist in a chareidi school and I hear really nice things from her regarding the chareidi tzibur. My son was the Bible Contest champion at age 15. These facts speak the real truth”.

Mr. Netanyahu concluded with a message to the chareidi tzibur. “I want to work together towards better days for Am Yisrael. We do not have the privilege to engage in internal quarrels. We must combine forces and ensure the future of Am Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael and remember we are a member of the chain of generations of the Jewish People. If not for the heritage we should have gone to other places.”

“I know my ancestors fought for this country. We do not have anywhere else. We have no other country” he concluded.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)