Former Finance Minister Yair Lapid in an interview with Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) on Thursday morning 17 Teves denied the accuracy of statements made by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. The prime minister told the media that he was compelled to appoint Lapid as the finance minister since Likud was not strong enough to build a coalition without Yesh Atid. Lapid told Galei Tzahal the treasury was the first offer on the table when he began negotiating with Netanyahu.

Lapid added that there were things that he forced on the prime minister. This includes compelling him to reduce the number of ministers in the cabinet and to advance the Share the Burden Bill into law — to compel all Jewish citizens to serve in the IDF or an approved national service.

Lapid referred to polls released this week showing his party is up from 7 seats to 11 or 12 seats. He believes this is because at first, when the Knesset voted to dissolve itself there was much disappointment but now, after some time has passed and voters have a chance to really understand what occurred, “They are coming to realize that we are the only ones that did anything”.

Lapid continued “There is equality in sharing the burden and a cabinet of no larger than 18 ministers [plus the prime minister]. There is a 300% increase in the number of chareidim heading into the workplace. There are summer camps and there is a billion shekels for Holocaust survivors…I think we did some work here”.

“In a press conference the prime minister stated the tried to takeover with a putsch. This is simply untrue. There was no such effort. We sat with him and I said I would not side with the chareidim against him and someone is fabricating this story. I am willing to accept responsibility for many things, but not on the fall of the coalition” he added.

As he was nearing the end of the interview, Lapid labeled the prime minister “dangerous”, explaining “there is nothing more dangerous than a nation that does not know in which direction it is heading. This is a prime minister that does not have a diplomatic, economic or security plan and that is dangerous”.

“They say Netanyahu is Mr. Security but during the past two years, security has deteriorated and the threats have increased and he has done nothing to prevent them”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)