Israeli ambassador to France resigns in objection to incoming gov't
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The Israeli Ambassador to France believes the new government puts democracy at risk due to its planned legislation and “extreme positions” in its policy guidelines.
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Israeli ambassador to France Yael German
Israeli Ambassador to France Yael German resigns from her position in objection to Benjamin Netanyahu’s incoming government, saying she cannot be part of a policy that is "radically different" from her beliefs.
German made her resignation letter public and said she had been “proud and happy” while serving the outgoing government; however, the new government puts democracy at risk due to its planned legislation and “extreme positions” in its policy guidelines, she stressed.
“Under these circumstances, I cannot act against my own beliefs and continue to represent a policy that is so radically different from everything I believe in,” she wrote.
German was appointed in 2021 by Foreign Minister Yair Lapid and served from 2013 to 2020 as a lawmaker in Lapid’s party.
Serious concerns about the new government
Outgoing Israeli occupation Chief of Staff, Aviv Kochavi, expressed serious concerns to Netanyahu about the new government's planned policy changes to the occupation forces, Israeli media reported on Monday, citing a source familiar with the matter.
The media said that a short phone call between Kochavi and Netanyahu took place last Thursday night, pointing out that outgoing Israeli occupation Security Minister Benny Gantz approved the call beforehand.
During the phone call, Kochavi criticized the transfer of power of military apparatuses to politicians such as extremist Knesset Members (MKs) Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, as per Israeli media.
Israeli Channel 13 military affairs commentator Or Heller said the call between Kochavi and Netanyahu was tense, adding that the IOF chief of staff was heard shouting.
Last month, "Israel's" ex-Premier Benjamin Netanyahu secured a mandate to form a new government, paving the way for the most right-wing administration in the Israeli occupation’s history.
The orchestrator of the killing of nearly 3,500 Palestinians during his era vowed to serve all Israeli settlers, "those who voted for us and those who did not -- it is my responsibility".
According to the Foreign Affairs magazine, the situation was inherently unstable, contrary to what Netanyahu and his allies hope, noting that "one thing is certain: Israel has entered uncharted territory. The only question is just how far to the right Netanyahu is willing to go."
Read: Schism in 'Israel' grows over who will occupy Palestine 'better'
The unprecedented period of political deadlock in "Israel" resulted in five elections in less than four years, with polling on November 1 handing power over to Netanyahu and his far-right allies.
A couple of weeks later, Israeli media said that Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu intends to ask Israeli President Isaac Herzog to extend the mandate to form the next government, due to difficulties in coalition negotiations.
Consequently, Israeli Knesset member Gadi Eisenkot told Ynet that if Netanyahu harms the national interests of "Israel, Israeli democracy, state education," and the IOF, "the way to deal with it is to take a million people out to the streets. I will be among them."
The Israeli Knesset member clarified that he does not intend to join Netanyahu’s coalition or leave Israeli politics, describing Netanyahu as "a man riding a tiger" maneuvered by extremists Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
A few days ago, Israeli media warned that "Netanyahu is weakening the Israeli army by extracting part of its power in favor of settlers," as it referenced Knesset Member Ben-Gvir's plan to "remove the border guard companies from the Central Command and direct them to Al-Naqab."
