Benny Begin
Benny BeginFlash90

Likud MK Benny Begin on Tuesday blasted the appointment of Yisrael Beytenu chief Avigdor Liberman as Defense Minister, ridiculing right-wing supporters of the move as “fools”.

“There are three kinds of right-wingers,” said Begin, “moderate right-wingers, extreme right-wingers, and foolish right-wingers.”

“Just yesterday Liberman showed us his views,” said Begin, referring to Liberman’s call for a two-state solution on Monday and previous statements endorsing land swaps along Israel’s narrow coastal plain.

“I was surprised by those members [of the nationalist camp], some of whom live in Judea and Samaria, who remember the ideas Liberman has talked about [in the past] that the western border of that same [proposed Palestinian] state - which I see as a PLO state at the beginning that will quickly become a Hamas state – that its border needs to be along the length of Highway 6 [along Israel’s central coastal plain].”

“So for residents of Samaria or members of the Likud to celebrate [the fact] that a man with views like these has been given the Defense Ministry leads me to this conclusion [that they’re fools].”

Begin also criticized Liberman and Netanyahu over their recent statements in favor of the establishment of a Palestinian state.

“I heard that the Prime Minister wants to bring about the establishment of another state next to Israel in Judea and Samaria. He knows that idea isn’t supported within the Likud party in the Knesset and not by the government he currently leads.”

“I saw such joyous celebrations among some right-wing activists when they saw the deal was completed and [former Defense Minister] Yaalon was removed from his position. That means that a man who was totally opposed to the establishment of a PLO-Hamas state was unacceptable to them. But a man who promised to conquer Gaza, eradicate terror, and [implement] the death penalty [for terrorists] is Kosher LeMehadrin.”