Speaking before a gathering of National Religious Party (NRP) activists, the Likud chairman and former prime minister ratcheted up the relations between his party and the religious Zionist party. His speech lent some credence to earlier rumors of political contacts made regarding potential unification of the Likud and the NRP-National Union Knesset factions.
"There is a natural partnership between the national-religious public and the nationalist public," Netanyahu declared, adding:
Turning to the political import of his address to the NRP delegates, Netanyahu concluded, "An authentic, brave partnership must be given expression in very concrete plans. You must be a part of any government that arises; we are brothers and fellow-travelers."
Knesset Member Eli Gabbai (NRP-National Union), who initiated the gathering on Tuesday, criticized the appointment of Arab MK Ghaleb Majadle as a minister in the Olmert administration. Defense Minister and Labor Party chairman Amir Peretz - who chose Majadle for the position of minister of science, technology, sports and culture [though currently he is only a Minister Without Portfolio] - did not bother to check if the new minister was appropriate to represent the culture and science of the nation of Israel, Gabbai said.
At the same time, MK Gabbai intimated praise for the controversial economic policies of MK Netanyahu from his period as finance minister in the Sharon administration.
"In spite of the security situation," Gabbai said, "we see billions in surplus income, there is an [economic] growth rate of five percent, unemployment is down, there is no inflation - and it is thanks to the economic policies implemented several years ago."
In his speech, Netanyahu also addressed the Iranian threat to Israel: "We must protect the state. And it is not protected by hiding our heads [and saying] it hasn't happened or it won't happen." He said that 60 members of the British parliament signed a document drafted by the former prime minister calling for the trial of Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad before an international tribunal.
"There is a natural partnership between the national-religious public and the nationalist public," Netanyahu declared, adding:
This partnership has been through many tests over the course of a generation. It is natural and it is not an accident that we find ourselves together in the opposition. We must strengthen our mutual partnership...Netanyahu further emphasized that those values will also be promoted in the Hareidi Orthodox school system.
We firmly believe in the triangle [connecting] the Land of Israel, the People of Israel and the Torah of Israel... That is a clear point of agreement; that must be the platform of the next government, so that it will form the basis for the value system of every boy and girl in Israel, which will withstand great storms.
Turning to the political import of his address to the NRP delegates, Netanyahu concluded, "An authentic, brave partnership must be given expression in very concrete plans. You must be a part of any government that arises; we are brothers and fellow-travelers."
Knesset Member Eli Gabbai (NRP-National Union), who initiated the gathering on Tuesday, criticized the appointment of Arab MK Ghaleb Majadle as a minister in the Olmert administration. Defense Minister and Labor Party chairman Amir Peretz - who chose Majadle for the position of minister of science, technology, sports and culture [though currently he is only a Minister Without Portfolio] - did not bother to check if the new minister was appropriate to represent the culture and science of the nation of Israel, Gabbai said.
At the same time, MK Gabbai intimated praise for the controversial economic policies of MK Netanyahu from his period as finance minister in the Sharon administration.
"In spite of the security situation," Gabbai said, "we see billions in surplus income, there is an [economic] growth rate of five percent, unemployment is down, there is no inflation - and it is thanks to the economic policies implemented several years ago."
In his speech, Netanyahu also addressed the Iranian threat to Israel: "We must protect the state. And it is not protected by hiding our heads [and saying] it hasn't happened or it won't happen." He said that 60 members of the British parliament signed a document drafted by the former prime minister calling for the trial of Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad before an international tribunal.