Prominent Channel 2 news analyst Amnon Abramowitz, known for his extreme left-wing and anti-settlement views, calls on the chareidi parties in Knesset to link with the left-wing. Abramowitz now feels the money drain on the nation are not caused by the chareidim but with the “settlers”.

“It’s not the chareidim draining the nation’s resources but the settlers. They are the thieves’ stated Abramowitz in his column in Yediot Achronot. Abramowitz reflects back fondly on the days of former PM Ehud Barak. That column led to an interview with Kol Berama Radio. Abramowitz spoke with host Avi Mimran.

Abramowitz was asked to refer to the numerous leadership changes in the Labor Party since Barak’s tenure. He explained that the party recently elected Yitzchak Herzog to head the party, adding he does not feel having frequent elections to elect a new leader is an acceptable norm for the party. However he was just elected and he is entitled to a chance to prove his abilities.

Commenting in a cynical tone on the “successes” of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in the areas of defense, peace negotiations and the economy, Abramowitz feels the result might be the formation of a new political bloc that will challenge Netanyahu and his party. Abramowitz does not rule out the possibility that this new political entity may result in ousting Netanyahu from office.

Abramowitz feels the chareidim must “return to the other bloc and not Netanyahu” because he feels the settlement movement and its residents are the cause for the major drain on national resources and therefore if the chareidim shift to the moderate left-wing, this would enable Labor and the moderate left to oust Netanyahu and effect a change in national priorities. He feels the hate of chareidim is not anywhere as great as some believe for most realize the real money drain comes from the settlements, not the chareidim.

Kol Berama:

Aryeh Deri announced earlier this week he backs Moshe Kahlon. Is this worrying Netanyahu?

Abramowitz:

He later issued a clarification, stating this is not so, that his words were not interpreted correctly. Deri was quick to issue his clarification so it is clear even if he meant it, that statement was retracted.

Kol Berama:

What about the deal with Bayit Yehudi and Yesh Atid? They seem to survive together due to their deal.

Abramowitz:

Regarding Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, they are not brothers and there is no new agreement between them today. I believe that if Lapid succeeds in removing obstacles with the chareidim, he will distance himself from Bennett and this will result in a new political reality. I do not believe that all of Lapid’s 19 seats came from those who dislike the chareidim but more because of promises to bring down the cost of living and address social issues. Many of his supporters do not have a problem with chareidim.

Kol Berama:

It sounds a bit bizarre to me that he would turn to the chareidim.

Abramowitz:

Who knows? Would you have believed a month ago that Yair Lapid would grow a beard? Would you ever thing that day would come?

Kol Berama:

Why not, that type of beard is trendy today.

Abramowitz:

Nevertheless you never would have predicted it and I maintain that a deal between him and the chareidim is possible and this would shift the power to the left and leave Bennett and Likud in a different place.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)