Defense Minister Quits Politics Citing 'Lack of Trust' in Netanyahu, Vows to Return

Jerusalem, 20 May, 2016 (TPS) -- Jerusalem (TPS) – Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon announced on Friday that he is quitting his position and political life due to a “lack of trust” in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even as he vowed to return and challenge Netanyahu for the leadership.

The move follows a deal struck by Netanyahu on Wednesday to replace Ya’alon as defense minister with MK Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party.

“I informed the prime minister this morning that, due to his conduct during recent developments and the lack of trust in him, I am quitting the government and the Knesset and am taking a break from political life,” Ya’alon wrote on Twitter Friday morning.

In a blistering and defiant televised speech at noon at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, Ya’alon defended his record and blasted Netanyahu – without naming him – as well as “the takeover of the center by an extremist minority.”

“Unfortunately, I have recently found myself locked in serious disputes regarding issues of professionalism and values with the prime minister, as well as other ministers and members of Knesset,” Ya’alon said. “I fought with all my power against the phenomena of extremism, violence, and racism in Israeli society – they threaten our fortitude and seep into the IDF, which is already being harmed.”

Ya’alon said that although “Israeli society is generally healthy” and a majority of its citizens “seek a Jewish, democratic, and liberal state” that protects the rights of minorities and women, there has been a “takeover” by “extremist elements.”

“To my great dismay, dangerous extremist elements have taken over Israel – and also the Likud. They are shaking up our home and threatening to harm its inhabitants,” Ya’alon said. “This is not the Likud I joined.”

Netanyahu and Ya’alon, both members of the Likud party, have publicly butted heads recently over a series of issues related to the independence of the IDF top brass from its political leadership. Ya’alon was outspoken in defending a top IDF general who received criticism from politicians – including Netanyahu – for comments linking trends in modern Israeli society with those of Nazi Germany, as well as vigorously defending the army’s controversial prosecution of a soldier who shot an already-wounded Palestinian terrorist in Hebron.

“I hope that the wider public, both left and right, will understand the seriousness of the takeover of the center by an extremist minority and will fight these phenomena,” Ya’alon continued. “It pains me to say that senior politicians have chosen the path of incitement and dividing Israeli society, rather than uniting and connecting.”

“The role of the leadership is to lead in a moral way, following a compass and at times against the blowing winds; to chart a path and not get swept along for electoral reasons or opinion polls, and not to conduct or agree to an irresponsible and wild discourse,” Ya’alon said.

“I have no regrets over the positions I have taken on professional issues and values, even if that has brought about the end of my term as defense minister. I am satisfied with my path and will not stray from it,” Ya’alon declared.

“I fear for the future of Israel,” Ya’alon added. “I will continue this struggle going forward because we have no other land.”

Ya’alon’s Knesset seat is expected to go to Yehuda Glick, a controversial American-born activist for Jewish prayer on the Temple Mount who was nearly murdered in an assassination attempt by a Palestinian gunman in 2014.

“I am sorry for Bogie Ya’alon’s decision,” Netanyahu responded to Ya’alon’s announcement, referring to him by his familiar nickname. “I think he should have continued as a full partner in leading the country in the position of foreign minister.”

Netanyahu denied that Ya’alon’s ouster resulted from “a crisis of trust” between the two, suggesting that Ya’alon would have remained in the government had the Defense Ministry portfolio not been handed to Liberman.

“Now I would like to clarify: the IDF is a moral army,” Netanyahu said. “It preserves and will continue to preserve the highest moral values, chief among them the ‘purity of arms.’ There is not and has never been a dispute about that.”

Netanyahu also responded to Ya’alon’s allegations of an “extremist takeover” of Likud.

“Likud believes in democracy. Likud is a national, liberal movement committed to preserving Israel as a Jewish and democratic state,” Netanyahu declared.

Netanyahu also said that the “door is open” for opposition leader and Labor party chairman Isaac Herzog to join the coalition, in order to advance a regional peace. Herzog, for his part, called for Ya’alon to join his opposition movement.

“Bogie led professional, brave, modest, considered, and responsible work on behalf of the country’s security for decades,” said President Reuven Rivlin, another Likud member and frequent foe of Netanyahu.

“I am full of hope that he will regroup and return to action soon.”