BICOM

Israel’s former Defence Minister has announced his intention to run for Prime Minister at the next elections.

Addressing the Herzliya Conference, Ya’alon spoke about his future intentions for the first time since his resignation.  “The last few months have highlighted the differences in perception that have emerged between the Prime Minister and myself,” he said.

Ya’alon, who is also a former-IDF Chief of Staff, resigned several weeks ago following disagreements with Prime Minister

Ya’alon said that the current leadership is “frightening” and “scaring” Israelis over security threats. He said: “At this time there is no existential threat to Israel, not even the Iranian threat.”

He added:  “If anything keeps me up at night, it is the rifts in society, the eating away at basic values.”

He also said: “I intend to run for the leadership in Israel in the next elections.”

He did not specify whether he intends to challenge Netanyahu for the Likud Party leadership or form his own faction.

Netanyahu responded, saying that Ya’alon had quickly “changed his spots,” having touted Iran’s existential threat just month ago. He also accused former Prime Minister Ehud Barak of desperately trying to remain in the public limelight.

Speaking at the same conference, Barak had taken aim at Netanyahu. He said that “Netanyahu’s true top priority is not Israel’s security, safeguarding democracy, or internal unity,” but rather a “river to the sea” agenda.

He concluded: “If the government does not come to its senses, we will all have to stand up and overthrow it by popular protest – before it’s too late.”

Meanwhile, the two most recent former-IDF heads, Gabi Ashkenazi and Benny Gantz yesterday launched a new social movement, which they say will work on domestic issues towards greater social cohesion. They criticised an atmosphere of fear which they say has been created. Both have been tipped to enter the political arena.