Netanyahu mocks rivals for banking on his demise

The prime minister spoke on Thursday at a Rosh Hashanah celebration.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2019 21:01

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the post-election rally on September 18, 2019. (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the post-election rally on September 18, 2019.

(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called upon Blue and White leader Benny Gantz on Thursday to give up his hopes of breaking up his party or his bloc or ending his reign in the Likud in a New Year's toast to 2000 Likud activists at Expo Tel Aviv.

"There are those who imagine or have delusions," Netanyahu said. "First they thought they could break up our partnership in the nationalist camp, but that is stronger than ever. So now they think they can break up the Likud."

Netanyahu than asked the crowd: "Can they break up the Likud? Will you let them topple the head of Likud?" After the crowd shouted no, Netanyahu told Gantz to listen to the crowd, which was chanting "Bibi, King of Israel."

"You need to understand something about something about these people who are here: We go together in fire and water," Netanyahu said.

He did not address his legal cases, despite expectations he would.

Watch the video (in Hebrew):

Our democracy is different than everywhere in the world and I am proud of it, @netanyahu tells Likud activists at Expo Tel Aviv
— Gil Hoffman (@Gil_Hoffman) September 26, 2019

More than 2 million citizens support me to be PM, more than any other candidate, but it's not enough to form a government, so the only possibility is a broad unity govt, @netanyahu says in Rosh Hashana toast.
— Gil Hoffman (@Gil_Hoffman) September 26, 2019

There are delusions that they can break up the Likud or topple the chairman of Likud, @netanyahu says mockingly. He tells @gantzbe to listen to the chants in the crowd of "Bibi, King of Israel." He also says his bloc is stronger than ever. "We go together in fire and water."
— Gil Hoffman (@Gil_Hoffman) September 26, 2019

Display leadership and come to unity, @netanyahu tells @gantzbe, saying that a broad government is needed to deal with the security challenges in the region.
— Gil Hoffman (@Gil_Hoffman) September 26, 2019