Izencot Reveals Netanyahu Offered Him Defense Minister Role; Bardugo Claims Izencot Sought Likud Entry

In an interview with i24, Chairman of the Yesh Atid party, Izencot, revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had attempted to recruit him to the Likud party and offered him the position of Defense Minister. Izencot stated he rejected the offer, asserting, "I am not looking for positions." He further clarified his stance on Hamas, stating, "Hamas is not a charity organization, but a terror organization that wants to destroy Israel, and therefore it must be destroyed or dismantled." Izencot recalled preparing a plan to destroy Hamas during his tenure as IDF Chief of Staff, a plan he believes was wasted. He pledged that dismantling the organization would be a central goal with a defined timeframe.

Regarding the possibility of the Ra'am party joining a future government, Izencot stated, "Ra'am does not accept my principles, therefore it cannot be part of the next government." He is working to secure 61 to 64 mandates to form a government without Netanyahu and without Ra'am, urging the public to support Zionist and state-oriented parties. "We still have three weeks to convince the Zionist-state majority that the way to ensure this is to vote for 'Yesh Atid!' and Zionist-state parties, and not to support anyone unwilling to pass the draft law," he said.

Bardugo responded to Izencot's claims, alleging the opposite was true, and that Izencot himself had previously sought to join the Likud. "Izencot is the one who checked with me four years ago, before the elections, about the possibility of integrating into Likud, while claiming 'I am more right-wing than Netanyahu,'" Bardugo stated. He accused Izencot of hiding his left-wing positions on establishing a Palestinian state and his desire for partnership with Arab parties that call Hamas a charity organization, as he is "trying to hide from the public today." Bardugo concluded, "The public understands - it's either right or Palestine."