Likud MK Danny Danon spoke with the dati leumi Srugim News, explaining he views it his mission to redirect the party back to its true path, adding the current administration did not complete its tern as a result of errors made by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. He explains Mr. Netanyahu should have built his coalition with Bayit Yehudi and the chareidim and not Yesh Atid and The Movement. Following are excerpts from that interview.

He explained in the second round he and party colleague Moshe Feiglin will join forces and work together. He is optimistic that the lesson has been learned and that in the next coalition Likud will turn to “its natural partners”.

In the past Feiglin was the only one to run against Netanyahu for the party leadership slot. Are you adding your name to that list this time around? Might you and Feiglin work together?

I would be pleased to unite forces and I have spoken with Feiglin, who feels running in the race for the party leadership position is important without a connection to the outcome. I respect his view and whatever will be, we must unite and work together. It is quite likely that there will be a runoff round and if this occurs, we will definitely cooperate with one-another.

Danon explains that his goal is not to embarrass the prime minister, but to direct Likud back to its hashkafa, reminding Srugim that the prime minister released 78 Islamic terrorists with ‘blood on their hands’ and this is not the Likud way.

Polls show Likud headed by you, Netanyahu or Feiglin receives the same number of seats.

I saw that poll and it tells me there is a solid nucleus of supporters and therefore we must return to the true Likud. The poll shows Likud earning 17 seats with me at the helm but this is before I am elected and if we return to the correct path, I am confident we can receive more seats.

Over recent days we are witness to stepped-up efforts to form a centrist/left-wing bloc to block Netanyahu. Polls show a combined list of Herzog and Livni will result in it becoming the largest party in Knesset. How will Likud address this?

I believe the results of the poll must be taken with a grain of salt. There is always a euphoric atmosphere when parties join to run under a combined list as was the case with Likud and Yisrael Beitenu. They began speaking about 45 mandates but ultimately received 31.

Might there be an agreement between Netanyahu and Bennett that they do not wish to disclose to avoid giving the impression like last time that elections are already over and Likud is strengthening another party?

In my opinion there is no agreement. After the break with Livni and the left-wing, the next government must be aligned with right-wing parties, which is what we should have done two years ago.

Regarding the two-state solution, I say it has failed and it is time to seek alternatives. We have tried satisfying everyone for long enough.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)