Feiglin: Conflict Between Bennett, Netanyahu ‘Ridiculous’

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/176869#.Uun_hdKtLCc

By Tova Dvorin

First Publish: 1/29/2014, 8:38 PM

Deputy Knesset Chairman Moshe Feiglin (Likud) slammed reports of a deep chasm between Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu (Likud) and Economics Minister Naftali Bennett (Jewish Home) Wednesday, calling the conflict “ridiculous” and a distraction from important national issues.

“The clashes between Netanyahu and Bennett are ridiculous,” Feiglin stated to Arutz Sheva. “The discussion should not be on who insulted whom or who needs to ask forgiveness, but focus instead on the negotiations” between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA).

“Livni has already declared that she will begin negotiating over Jerusalem,” the MK continued. “I recommend to Netanyahu that he stop using the arguments with Bennett as a smokescreen and approach the people over the real issues at stake.”

Feiglin called on Netanyahu – who is not only the Prime Minister but the head of his party, Likud – to turn to the people over the outcome of the ongoing negotiations.

“Go to the public like a man and issue a referendum [over dividing Jerusalem],” he stated, in a public call to the Prime Minister. “If you win, you’ll be able to do whatever you want – and, of course, I’ll leave the coalition.

“If you lose, you’ll end up going to elections – and I call on all in the nationalist camp to choose an alternative to the leadership of Netanyahu,” Feiglin continued.

Feiglin also attacked the policies of Jewish Home, insisting not only that mistakes have been made by the party, but also that they have caused real damage.

“Senior members of Jewish Home capitulated to Netanyahu by allowing him to negotiate over the heart of our country,” Feiglin declared, referring to talks of giving away Judea and Samaria. “I claim, unlike Naftali Bennett and other Jewish Home leaders, that negotiation over the land in the first place undermines the legitimacy of establishing a Jewish homeland in the entire Land of Israel.”

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s controversial suggestion to leave Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria under Palestinian Authority (PA) control caused the breakdown between the two parties. Sources close to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) stated that the suggestion – which was allegedly an unauthorized leak – was an intentional ruse to expose the “true face” of the PA to the international community.

Feiglin was not impressed.

“I am against negotiations and will not accept the concept of a Palestinian state, as well as those who enter into negotiations and then try to escape,” he said. “I hope it’s not too late.”