Ofir Akunis
Ofir AkunisMiriam Alster/Flash 90

Outgoing Deputy Environmental Minister Ofir Akunis stated in a special Arutz Sheva interview Wednesday. 

"This is a wonderful day for the people of Israel," Akunis stated. "The fate of Israel was hanging in the balance, and leaning toward a leftist government. I am happy in the last 72 hours that the tide has turned toward Likud, the Right and the national camp."

With regard to the brutal attack on the right wing in general and Netanyahu in particular, Akunis also addressed how to correctly deal with aggressive and opinionated media.

"The most important thing you can do is to keep the market open to new voices, it is good for pluralism, which is good for democracy and the expression of opinion and the Israeli public should accept a true democracy," says Akunis, who is convinced that the attempt to shut down the Israel Hayom newspaper during the previous term was "not pass the next Knesset." 

With regard to the race to form a coalition, Akunis expressed hope that in three or four weeks there will already be "a new government based on parties from the national camp, and Jewish Home will be the first partner." Akunis cited Netanyahu's first call to Jewish Home chairman Naftali Bennett Tuesday night as exit polls were released.

"The public will is to have a national government," Akunis continued. "The public's spirit for the right is reflected in the results."

"Last week, there were moments when we were at a low point in this massive campaign," he added, speculating that some drops in polls for Likud may have been due to the controversy surrounding Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's speech to the US Congress. 

Akunis also dismissed concerns over animosity between Jewish Home and Likud, after Bennett stated on multiple occasions concerns that Netanyahu would approach Labor first to form a unity government. He noted that Likud views Jewish Home as a "sister party" and that the party has worked with the various Religious Zionist parties over the years with positive results and "great loyalty" between the two. 

"These [i.e. Jewish Home and Likud] are two parties which express almost identical positions," Akunis added. "We promised them [to work on the coalition together] even before elections, and we are - despite the skepticism of the Jewish Home leadership." 

Akunis acknowledged that there is still a possibility that Likud could approach Labor for a unity government, but added that the chances of such a union happening are close to impossible. 

"We will formulate a coalition with the nationalist camp, formulate guidelines, and parties who accept these ideas are welcome - but Labor does not seem ready to [accept them]," Akunis said. "There is a profound ideological chasm here, as expressed both in the elections campaign and in real life." 

Akunis concluded by responding to a question on which role he would prefer in the 20th Knesset. 

"I do not hide my intentions to be a minister," he mused. "I have proven myself during my short experience at the Ministry of Environmental Protection."

"I was happy to be serving in that office, but I would also be appropriate as Communications Minister," he said, adding that no matter what Netanyahu assigned him, he would happy to fulfill his role to the best of his ability.