Former Likud party cabinet minister and MK, and a son of the late Prime Minister Menachem Begin; Dr. Benny Begin, has come out calling upon Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to step down from office.

During an interview with Galei Tzahal (Army Radio), Begin called on Netanyahu to step down, citing the nation cannot accept a reality of a serving prime minister who faces criminal indictments. Begin places the blame for a third round of Knesset elections on Netanyahu, citing “he cannot continue as if nothing occurred”.

Speaking to Galei Tzahal on Tuesday morning, Begin told “Good Morning Israel” host Effie Triger regarding events taking place in Likud today that after the last election, when he announced he would not vote for Likud because of Netanyahu’s positions, and this time around he calls on Netanyahu to step down from office.

“The Attorney General submitted the three count criminal indictment against Binyamin Netanyahu to the Knesset Speaker, and all three counts are serious. I see that some of the public views this as ‘the coat is only a bit wet from the light rain’ Begin explained, continuing “It is not acceptable for him to continue in his position as if nothing occurred. We cannot accept the situation in which a serving prime minister faces such a criminal indictment”.

The former minister, who is a well-respected member of the old guard, explained that it is not just a matter of legalities, but the public aspect and the social and educational message sent by the prime minister’s situation and actions. Begin reminded listeners of Netanyahu’s words and how he simply lashed out against law enforcement agencies. “These are false stories and Netanyahu’s representatives further echo these lies” he said, adding that “the ruling party leaders are trying to turn the table on our law enforcement agencies to prevent them from fulfilling their vital role”.

Begin places the responsibility for the third round of elections squarely on Netanyahu’s shoulders. “We have been in this state of turmoil for almost a year and l’chatchila, it is Netanyahu who is responsible for the early elections. We were only scheduled to have elections in November 2019, and he decided it is preferable for him earlier and then another round”.

Begin believes during the tenure of the 21st Knesset, after he could not form a coalition, Netanyahu was wrong for dissolving Knesset and forcing elections instead of permitting others to attempt to form a coalition.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)