Diplomacy collapsing in 'Israel': former PM Lapid lambasts Smotrich
Diplomacy is eroding within the Israeli occupation as high-ranking officials are exchanging blame in public and lambasting each other on social media.
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Israeli occupation opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid speaks during a rally against judicial reform plans by PM Benjamin Netanyahu's government in occupied Al-Quds, occupied Palestine, February 13, 2023 (AP Photo)
Former Israeli Prime Minister and opposition leader Yair Lapid viciously attacked Saturday Israeli Finance Bezalel Smotrich after the latter accused him of paying factory owners to take their investments abroad.
"Smotrich is a liar, and son of a liar, carrying on with his campaign of lies. This time he claimed on the broadcast that I called on factory owners to take their factories out of Israel," Lapid said.
"Just a gross lie from a liar. If there is a record of me saying this, feel free to sue me. Why is he lying? Because he knows he is leading to the destruction of the economy with his own hands," the former premier added.
Last month Smotrich attacked the opposition leader and accused him of trying to drive the country to an internal war, saying that he "wants to create chaos both in the economic sphere or domestically."
This comes after US ambassador to "Israel" Thomas Nides attacked the occupation's fanatic Finance Minister in response to the latter's statements on Israeli outlets, in which he urged the obliteration of a Palestinian city.
"I am really angry with him, he is stupid," said Nides, according to Israel Hayom, who only reported on this matter in Hebrew. Nides then added that Smotrich "has a flight to Washington" adding that "if I could I would throw him off the plane."
Previously, Smotrich, one of the most senior members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, was quoted by Israeli media saying "I think the village of Huwara needs to be wiped out. I think Israel should do it."
The fanatic statement came days after the illegal Israeli settlers' rampage, which left one Palestinian murdered and Palestinian cars, homes, and businesses burned to the ground. The rampage followed a week of brutal aggression against Palestinians in Nablus, in which 11 were killed in an Israeli occupation forces (IOF) raid.
Following his November 1 election win, Netanyahu took office late last month at the head of a coalition with Haganah-minded parties, some of whose officials now head key ministries. The new occupation government has announced intentions to pursue a policy of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
Furthermore, Lapid censured Israeli occupation Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, calling him "the dangerous TikTok clown".
He said the "Tiktok clown continues to incite and encourage violence. There has never been a minister in the government who openly tries to create violent clashes between the police and the citizens."
"The demonstrations will only grow and grow, grow stronger," he said, talking about the mass protests taking place against the Israeli occupation's government as it tries to pass a law that overhauls the judiciary.
Thousands of illegal Israeli settlers took to the streets of "Tel Aviv" again on Saturday, marking the ninth consecutive week of protesting the government's judicial overhaul bid.
The latest rally in "Tel Aviv" comes after a similar demonstration took place on Wednesday when Israeli settlers were confronted by the police using stun grenades and water cannons, leading to about 39 getting arrested and 11 others getting injured.
Israeli settlers closed roads and train stations in protest against a draft judicial amendments bill that Benjamin Netanyahu's government is seeking to pass, while Israeli Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened protesters and ordered police to force roads open.
Israeli media reported that demonstrators were injured from stun grenades thrown at them by the police at the Hashalom junction in "Tel Aviv". For its part, Israeli media reported that Israeli police are no longer able to contain the protesters.
Israeli media cited protest organizers saying that the occupation police chief must dismiss those responsible for throwing stun grenades and trampling demonstrators with horses, adding that the Israeli police was morally bankrupt and has today turned into a "political police force."
"Crime Minister," said a large banner among the Israeli protesters. "Democracy! Democracy!" and "Shame!" they shouted, failing to acknowledge that there is no such thing as a democracy under occupation.
