Netanyahu says Israelis have right to know Lapid’s intentions and ambitions
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that he was not scared of debating opposition chief Yair Lapid, but the debate would come with some pre-conditions.
First, Netanyahu told Channel 12, Lapid would have to announce that he is running for the position of the country’s prime minister.
The PM said that Israelis must understand Lapid’s intentions and ambitions, saying the country was not “a game” for political figures.
The PM’s remarks come after Lapid urged him to debate him one on one live on Saturday night.
New Hope’s Gideon Sa’ar and Yamina’s Naftali Bennett demanded that they must also take part should the event materialize.
However, Netanyahu appeared to not accept the challenge despite earlier reports that he had been consulting with his allies on the matter.
In his own interview, he touched upon a number of subjects, including the Israeli plan to apply its sovereignty to parts of the West Bank — something Netanyahu said he would only do with a green light from the US.
The Prime Minister, who had been indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of public trust, which he all denies, also said he was against canceling his own trial.
