Dr. Hagai Ben-Artzi, a Bar Ilan University lecturer and brother in-law of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, hasn't always agreed with his relative on government policy - but in an interview Tuesday, he agreed that, whatever difference of opinion he has with the Prime Minister, Netanyahu is the most worthy candidate for the office.
Speaking to Arutz Sheva, Ben-Artzi said that “there are several people out there who are offering themselves as alternatives to Netanyahu, including Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid and Labor chairman Yitzchak Herzog. But based on their records, they are not worthy alternatives. Possibly, a leader who can truly be worthy of that title will arise, but they are not the answer.”
According to Ben-Artzi, Netanyahu, for better or worse, is the best Israel's political constellation has to offer right now.
For Lapid, the problem is his hypocrisy, said Ben-Artzi.
“Two and a half years ago he announced the formation of his party in Ariel, declaring his support for settlement blocs. Now he has declared that he will not give even one shekel for roads in Judea and Samaria. This is unequaled hypocrisy, to declare your support for Ariel before the election and only afterward to show your true face," said Ben-Artzi.
Herzog may not be a hypocrite in terms of his politics – he was never a supporter of communities in Judea and Samaria – but he is a hypocrite when he calls Netanyahu corrupt, said Ben-Artzi.
“He was government secretary when Ehud Barak was Prime Minister, and he was involved in a number of corruption scandals Barak was investigated for. At various hearings, he invoked his right to be silent in order not to incriminate himself. He should be invalidated as a candidate from the start. He has no right to run for Prime Minister, and I cannot understand why the public continues to tolerate him.”
Ben-Artzi said that if Netanyahu lets his true, right-wing self come out – and backs away from support for a Palestinian state in Judea and Samaria – he will get a lot more votes. “Many potential Likud voters shy away from the party because they believe its current leadership has abandoned the tenets set by leaders like Menachem Begin and Yitzchak Shamir,” said Ben-Artzi. “I am sure that if Netanyahu declares that he holds to those principles he will gain a lot more support.”