Dan Meridor and Ronen Bergman on Israel’s Political Future

CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR: Do you agree with Meridor’s analysis, that that is the one thing Netanyahu’s trying to stave off, rather than his national security credentials and all of the things he normally talks about?

RONEN BERGMAN, STAFF WRITER, NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE: Well, Netanyahu for most of his career had one goal, which was to stay the prime minister. And now he has two goals, to stay the prime minister in order to evade prosecution. And we have seen everything that he has done in the last two or three years, again — and calling for another election just a few months ago. This was all in order to have the immunity, change the law of immunity or have the parliament immunity in order to make sure that he is not going to face the charges. We are going to have the hearings now just next week and/or in two weeks time, and this — the expected result of the attorney general will decide to prosecute him on at least three main charges of corruption, bribe, and other charges.So, Netanyahu from his point of view, this was the result of the last election, which are a defeat for him. There is no one main victor, but he lost. He wanted to enlarge his majority, the coalition, the right-wing coalition, in one or two mandate, and he lost five. He was not — and he is not able to form a government. He is dependent now on Benny Gantz, his main rival, to form a coalition. He is calling, as you showed the — your audience, he is calling for unity, but what he’s trying to do is put the blame on Benny Gantz for not allowing him to be his partner, for boycotting him, and calling for a third election. From his point of view, the result are just a mistake and he will go for more and more and more elections until what he believes the Israeli voter will come to the right decision.

AMANPOUR: Well, obviously, we have to say that the prime minister firmly denies any of these accusations.

BERGMAN: Of course.

AMANPOUR: However —

BERGMAN: And says it’s like a sort of prosecution, a left-wing conspiracy.

AMANPOUR: But to your point, and to Dan Meridor —

MERIDOR: And could —

AMANPOUR: Go ahead, Dan.

MERIDOR: OK. And let me say, the man is innocent until proven guilty, no doubt. But then you can’t say this in one minute, and the other minute not allow the process to continue and not to allow the Israeli part to know (ph), but (INAUDIBLE) to bribe or not, it can’t be left in the open. It needs to be decided.

AMANPOUR: Dan —

MERIDOR: And this is the major issue.

AMANPOUR: Dan, let me ask you something. You are a Likudnik. You have been in that party for, you know, your career. And yet you withheld your vote this time from Bibi Netanyahu and you voted for the Blue and White centrist party of Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid. Is this the main reason why?

MERIDOR: This is one reason, and there is more than this. You know, the Likud historically is a party by its name. It’s called a National Liberal Movement. This balance of the Jewish National Coalition, which is very important (INAUDIBLE), rebuilding our country is very important in my life and in our life.