Tel Aviv: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s top challenger in upcoming elections is promising a tough line toward Iran and the Palestinians, yet expressed confidence he has the tools to avoid what appears to be a collision course with the incoming Biden administration.
In an interview, Gideon Saar voiced harsh criticism of Netanyahu, accusing him of turning the ruling Likud party into a “cult of personality” as he faces a corruption trial. While welcoming President Donald Trump’s affinity for Israel, he acknowledged that Netanyahu’s close ties with the divisive US President had alienated many Democrats and vowed to restore traditional bipartisan support for Israel.
“I think I am in a better position than the Prime Minister to have an effective and true dialogue with President-elect [Joe] Biden and his administration,” he said.
That could be critical given the deep differences between Israel and Biden, who plans to return to the Iranian nuclear deal and adopt a more balanced approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Saar, who defected from Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party last month, shares Netanyahu’s hardline nationalistic ideology. He is a strong proponent of West Bank settlements, rejects the idea of a construction freeze and favours the eventual annexation of the settlements. He said he would never agree to an independent Palestinian state that includes the removal of settlements.
Read the article by Josef Federman in The Sydney Morning Herald.