Minister Shikli Criticizes Gadi Eizenkot’s Vision as Retreat and Palestinian State Support

Amichai Shikli, a minister in Israel’s current right-wing government and known for his ideological firmness, spoke openly on the Sorogim platform about his political views and the challenges facing Israel. He expressed pride in refusing to join the Bennett-Lapid government, which he called a betrayal of voters, labeling Naftali Bennett "the greatest fraud in Israeli politics." Shikli described the personal costs of his political stance but said he was determined to shorten the tenure of what he sees as a deceitful government.

Shikli admitted he was mistaken in initially hoping Mansour Abbas could be a partner, citing investigations revealing Abbas’s ties to Hamas and his refusal to label Hamas a terrorist organization even after the October 7 attacks. He sharply criticized Abbas’s differing rhetoric in Hebrew and Arabic, calling him an Islamist committed to Israel’s destruction and warning that any government reliant on the Islamic Movement’s votes is hostage to anti-Israel forces.

The minister also launched a severe critique of former War Cabinet member Gadi Eizenkot, accusing him of promoting a retreatist ideology and supporting a Palestinian state. Shikli called Eizenkot an extreme leftist who has not changed his views post-October 7 and warned against returning to a situation where Hezbollah militants roam near Israeli communities.

Regarding his own portfolio overseeing Bedouin development in the Negev, Shikli highlighted a significant policy shift, noting that while four illegal structures were demolished under the previous government, his administration has removed 5,000 this year alone. He emphasized the importance of combating land ownership claims in the eastern Negev and warned that a post-Zionist government dependent on the Islamic Movement would halt these efforts.

As Minister for the Diaspora, Shikli stressed the urgency of addressing high assimilation rates among Jews abroad, allocating hundreds of millions of shekels to Jewish education overseas to ensure every Jewish child receives a Jewish education. In a rapid-fire segment, he praised Netanyahu as a great leader, condemned Bennett as a political swindler, and described the settlement enterprise as the spearhead of Zionism, equating each farm to a military brigade. He also commented on upcoming Likud primaries, affirming his commitment to serving the people and the party faithfully.