Israel’s Right-Wing Parties Want to Sack Netanyahu

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Israel’s Right-Wing Parties Want to Sack Netanyahu

Israeli right-wing parties are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and calling for another right-wing leader as his successor, according to political sources familiar with the matter in Tel Aviv.

The recent demand is welcomed by several parties such as Netanyahu’s Likud, as well as the New Right and the National Union, both members of the Yamina Alliance led by Naftali Bennett.

They used scare tactics to warn right-wing parties that their ideologies face the risk of losing power due to Netanyahu's failures to address the scourge of the coronavirus and the dangerous economic consequences.

They say that the public has lost confidence in the PM and his ministers, who are chaotically leading the country with contradictory decisions.

The parties said that a number of ministers issued precautionary measures that they did not follow, but asked citizens to abide by them.

Polls confirm that despite the achievements in foreign policy and the agreements with the UAE and Bahrain, Netanyahu's domestic popularity continues to decline, according to right-wing officials.

They believe he should resign and give way to another right-wing figure who is welcomed by all, in order to save the right-wing regime.

However, another part wants the premier removed because they believe he, like some of his predecessors, has betrayed the principles.

They refer to Menachem Begin, who evacuated settlements by force and recognized the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, Ariel Sharon who split the Likud party and led the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip to the 1967 borders, and Ehud Olmert who offered Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas a plan to withdraw from 98 percent of the West Bank.

Journalist Kalman Libeskind suggested finding a “respectable exit” for Netanyahu by concluding a plea deal with the prosecution, according to which he retired from politics, in exchange for dismissing the indictments against him.

A similar position was reflected by a senior Likud official who spoke to journalist Ben Caspet, on condition of anonymity.

The official believes that it’s about time Netanyahu ends his term. He indicated that the PM is even following the path of the left-wing leaders who ignored all principles and ideology and have always sought compromises for solutions.

He described Netanyahu as a “pragmatic leader” who does not take military risks.

The official recalled how Netanyahu accepted the Oslo Accords and completed their implementation, and now stopped the annexation plan and pledged not to object the deal to sell advanced aircraft to the UAE.

He warned that if Netanyahu remains in power, “he will reach an agreement with the Palestinians, the price of which will be high, more than what we have paid so far. Therefore, it is time for him to give up.”

Netanyahu's comrades in Likud fear that the upcoming elections will not be in their favor.

The public discontent with the government’s failure to combat the pandemic and the exhausting economic conditions are noticeable and high. In addition, unemployment rate has amounted to half a million workers, and in the most recent polls, 49 percent of Israelis complained that they were directly affected by the government's recent economic decisions.

However, Naftali Bennett is benefitting the most from the current situation. A once high-ranking official at Netanyahu's office, Bennett left to form a party with Ayelet Shaked and they now lead the coalition of extreme right-wing parties, Yamina.

They won six seats in the Knesset, and polls show that they could quadruple it to more than 22 seats in the coming elections.

Bennett sees himself as a strong candidate for the premiership, even in an alliance with Netanyahu.

Bennett seeks to expand the ranks of his party to include liberal forces and gain the votes of the center. He proposes forming an alliance between Likud and Yamina, before the elections, provided that he leads the government until Netanyahu finishes his trial.

In the meantime, Bennett continues to attack Netanyahu for his failures, and Likud threatens to keep him out of any future right-wing coalition.



South Korea Former PM Launches Presidential Bid

Han Duck-soo became acting president after Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Anthony WALLACE / AFP
Han Duck-soo became acting president after Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Anthony WALLACE / AFP
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South Korea Former PM Launches Presidential Bid

Han Duck-soo became acting president after Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Anthony WALLACE / AFP
Han Duck-soo became acting president after Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment. Anthony WALLACE / AFP

South Korea's former prime minister Han Duck-soo announced his bid for the presidency on Friday, joining the race in a snap election triggered by the impeachment of the ex-president.

The June 3 vote will decide who replaces impeached former president Yoon Suk Yeol, who was removed from office over his ill-fated declaration of martial law in December that sank South Korea into prolonged political turmoil.

Political instability in the country intensified Thursday after a retrial was ordered for a presidential frontrunner over alleged election law violations, and as two key government figures -- including Han -- resigned.

Han had hinted at a possible presidential bid when he resigned as acting president and prime minister on Thursday, suggesting that he was willing to "take on a greater responsibility".

"For the future of the Republic of Korea, a country I deeply love, and for all of us, I have decided to do what I can," Han said in a televised speech on Friday.

"I will do my utmost to be chosen by our people in this presidential election."

The former prime minister took over as the country's acting president after Yoon was impeached by parliament in December.

The 75-year-old career bureaucrat is expected to team up with Yoon's People Power Party to launch a unified conservative campaign against liberal frontrunner Lee Jae-myung.

Across both liberal and conservative governments, Han has held a range of senior roles, including finance minister, trade minister and the country's ambassador to the US.

Notably, Han has twice served as prime minister, first under late former president Roh Moo-hyun and more recently under Yoon.

"I have dedicated my life to serving on the front lines of economic development as a proud public servant of the Republic of Korea," Han said, pledging that he will tackle the ongoing crisis in trade involving Washington's tariffs.

He also vowed to amend the Constitution to shorten the presidential term.

South Korea's single five-year presidential term has long faced criticism for concentrating excessive power in one individual, with critics accusing it of lacking sufficient checks and balances.

Han's announcement comes a day after the country's highest court overturned a ruling that found frontrunner Lee not guilty of making false statements during a previous campaign, potentially scuppering his chances of running in the election next month.

On the same day, finance minister Choi Sang-mok, set to replace Han as acting president, stepped down as opposition lawmakers voted on his impeachment over alleged involvement in the martial law incident, among others.

The impeachment procedure was suspended after Choi's resignation.