Israeli Minister Predicts End of Netanyahu’s Political Career if he Insists on Early Elections

Protesters gather outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem in July. (AFP)
Protesters gather outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem in July. (AFP)
TT
20

Israeli Minister Predicts End of Netanyahu’s Political Career if he Insists on Early Elections

Protesters gather outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem in July. (AFP)
Protesters gather outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem in July. (AFP)

Israeli Minister of Science Izhar Shay announced that accurate political indications show that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is at the end of his political career if he is determined to hold fresh early elections.

The Minister from the Blue and White party asserted that his statements are based on scientific and professional political calculations, citing polls indicating that Likud seats will drop from 36 to 26.

Netanyahu’s chances of returning as a prime minister after holding new elections are slim, and the PM is reconsidering the idea, according to Shay.

The Minister predicted Netanyahu would lose his current coalition if he continued his failed policy in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and its economic impact.

He announced that Blue and White party leader and alternate prime minister, Benny Gantz, gave Netanyahu until the end of this month to approve the state budget.

Surveys conducted by Channel 12 and 13 showed the continued decline of the Likud headed by Netanyahu.

Channel 12’s poll found that Likud would win 27 seats and Naftali Bennett’s bloc would win 22. Such polls would make the Yamina far-right alliance the second largest political group after Likud, with 22 seats.

The third largest party would be Yesh Atid-Telem, which gained 3 seats, rising to a total of 17 seats, in the Channel 12 poll. The Joint List of Arab-majority parties, led by Ayman Oudeh, would garner 15 seats, one less than in the previous survey.

If an election were held today, Likud is still projected to lead with 27 seats, Yamina would secure 24, and Yesh Atid-Telem would rise to a total of 21, according to the Channel 13 poll.

Both polls predicted that the Labor Party, Gesher, Derech Eretz and Habayit Hayehudi would not pass the electoral threshold.

According to these results, it is theoretically possible to form a government of Zionist parties, consisting of 61 deputies without Netanyahu or his alt-right allies.

The coalition will then include: Yamina, Yesh Atid-Telem, Yisrael Beiteinu and Blue and White.

The polls also asked the Israelis about their opinion regarding Netanyahu's trial on corruption charges.

About 48 percent said that an indictment should be filed against him, 34 percent said they did not believe that an indictment should be brought against him, and 18 percent did not answer.

Participants were also asked about the government's management of the coronavirus crisis. Fifty-eight percent said Netanyahu’s performance was poor, compared to 36 percent who rated it as good.

When asked about the best suited figure to lead the government, 32 percent chose Netanyahu, ahead of Bennett, who received 21 percent, while the head of the Yesh-Atid party, Yair Lapid, got by 9 percent, and only 6 percent of those surveyed voted for Gantz.

Significantly, 22 percent of the respondents said that none of the aforementioned persons is suitable to assume the premiership.



Iran Urges UN Nuclear Watchdog to Drop 'Double Standards'

FILED - 02 February 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visits an exhibition that showcases the defense ministry's latest advancements in defense and space in Tehran. Photo: Iranian Presidency/dpa
FILED - 02 February 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visits an exhibition that showcases the defense ministry's latest advancements in defense and space in Tehran. Photo: Iranian Presidency/dpa
TT
20

Iran Urges UN Nuclear Watchdog to Drop 'Double Standards'

FILED - 02 February 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visits an exhibition that showcases the defense ministry's latest advancements in defense and space in Tehran. Photo: Iranian Presidency/dpa
FILED - 02 February 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian visits an exhibition that showcases the defense ministry's latest advancements in defense and space in Tehran. Photo: Iranian Presidency/dpa

Iran's president said on Thursday the UN nuclear watchdog should drop its "double standards" if Tehran is to resume cooperation with it over Iran's nuclear program, Iranian state media reported.

President Masoud Pezeshkian last week enacted a law suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and the IAEA said it had pulled its last remaining inspectors out of Iran.

Relations between Iran and the IAEA have worsened since the United States and Israel bombed Iranian nuclear facilities in June, saying they wanted to prevent Tehran developing an atomic weapon. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only and denies seeking atomic weapons.

"The continuation of Iran's cooperation with the agency (IAEA) depends on the latter correcting its double standards regarding the nuclear file," state media quoted Pezeshkian as telling European Council President Antonio Costa by phone.

"Any repeated aggression (against Iran) will be met with a more decisive and regrettable response," he said.

Tehran accuses the IAEA of failing to condemn the attacks by the United States and Israel, and says the nuclear watchdog paved the way for the bombing by issuing a resolution declaring Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations.

"Failure to observe the principle of impartiality in reporting is one of the examples that casts doubt on the status and credibility of the IAEA," Pezeshkian said.

The bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities led to a 12-day war, during which Iran launched drones and missiles at Israel.

IAEA inspectors have not been able to inspect Iran's facilities since the bombing campaign, even though IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has said it is his top priority.