Netanyahu: Foreign countries are working to exclude me from power

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeated his accusations that foreign forces, in particular Scandinavian countries, are financing campaigns to prevent him from taking power again.

Yedioth Ahronoth, the Israeli newspaper, reported that Netanyahu understands that if he does not succeed in stopping the decline he is facing in the polls, it would be difficult for him to form the next government. In a desperate attempt to stop the downward trend, he seeks to obtain a promise from the leader of Kulanu party Moshe Kahlon and the head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party to support him and declare that they will support him in forming the next government.

The newspaper added that Netanyahu is trying to promote the idea that there are external forces interfering in the elections. In an interview with Radio Kol Rega, he said: “There are Western governments; especially Scandinavian countries, that are funding a campaign aimed at excluding me from power. They know very well why they would prefer Bougie [Isaac] Herzog and Livni.”

Netanyahu announced his rejection of the possibility of forming a unity government with the Zionist Camp headed by the two, adding that there is a “deep gap” between the two lists’ positions, and suggested offering the position of Minister of Finance to Kulanu chief Kahlon.

In an interview with Israeli Army Radio yesterday morning, 48 hours before voting begins, Netanyahu said: “I think from a practical perspective, I will not be able to form a government without him [Kahlon], so it does not matter how many seats he will gain and I said he would be offered a high-level economic position.”

Netanyahu added that Kahlon “will get the finance portfolio, and myself and Kahlon together will know how to solve the housing problem and the problem of the high cost of living, as we did with the cell phones at the time,” when Kahlon was a minister.

With regards to the possibility of forming a unity government, Netanyahu said that Israeli President Reuven Rivlin cannot dictate that a coalition government be formed, stressing: “I will not go for a unity government, and I think that failure is going to be its destiny before it begins its mandate, because in fact, there is a chasm between us.”

Adding: “The president will assign one of us to form a government; he will not decide and cannot decide to form a [unity] government. I hope that he works in accordance with his authorities.”

Following Netanyahu’s remarks, Kahlon said: “We are only 48 hours before the election, and there was no doubt that this trick would come. His aim is to reduce the votes which Kulanu will get and transfer them to others.”

He added that Netanyahu had promised to appoint him as head of the Israel Land Administration but he did not keep his word.