Eli Cohen on 'reserved' spots in Likud: 'They said I would get 2nd or 3rd place, I said I prefer elections'

Minister of Energy Eli Cohen (Likud), a member of the Security Cabinet, spoke with Gadi Ness on Radio North 104.5FM about the Likud primaries and the Prime Minister's reserved spots.

Minister Cohen first said: "I prefer elections and am giving up reserved spots. I hope to receive the support of the voters today, because we have proven our activity in the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The energy sector functioned flawlessly, and we broke the biggest monopoly in the current Knesset in the electricity sector. I have always preferred elections, not a steering committee or reserved spots."

According to him: "When there were thoughts about a steering committee, and they said I would get 2nd or 3rd place on the list, I said: 'Friends, I prefer elections'. It is important to receive feedback at the end from those you worked for, and this is gratitude for what you have done. I get up very early, go out to work for the benefit of our dear country, and believe that today I will be rewarded."

"75% of the list are elected in primaries, whereas in other parties the party leader determines the entire list, for example with Eizenkot or Lieberman. Here, a large majority are elected by the public in free elections," he noted, adding: "There are more than 100 members who want to run for a spot on the Knesset list. This holds a lot of optimism for the future."

"The enemies are not on our fence, and anyone who lives in border-adjacent settlements can sleep well at night"

"The State of Israel has never been stronger, Iran is at its weakest point since 1979. All our enemies did not end their lives in a good old age," Cohen stated. "To everyone who planned to harm Israel, we proved that they are making a grave mistake. In every arena where we have a challenge, there is a security zone in enemy territory."

He also said: "The enemies are not on our fence, there is a security zone, and anyone who lives in border-adjacent settlements can sleep well at night. In addition, there is no policy of restraint; for any attempt to harm Israel or harm a hair on the heads of soldiers, we respond with force."

"We laid the foundations for peace with Lebanon, but there is a basic condition, and that is the disarmament of Hezbollah"

On the situation of the Lebanese terrorist organization: "Hezbollah is frustrated because the agreement led by Marco Rubio states that it must disarm. Not only we or the USA are saying this, but they are saying it in Lebanon itself. They gathered the courage to say it after the blow we dealt them," he explained. "We laid the foundations for peace with Lebanon, but there is a basic condition, and that is the disarmament of Hezbollah - and it is important that the international community assists the state, because I doubt the Lebanese army can."

"Alongside this, we eliminated a number of Hezbollah operatives, we control 60% of the Strip's territory, and we control the crossings including the Philadelphi Corridor," he added. "I was in the Gaza envelope, and today you won't find a single vacant apartment there. The demand is very high, while in Gaza they live in ruins."

"Why should you choose me? My work speaks for itself: breaking the monopoly of the Electric Company and opening the market. Today there are more than 2 million consumers enjoying this. I started the law for closing water corporations, and we did Sisyphean work there. Thanks to the principle of continuity, when the next Knesset is established, I will act to pass it in the second and third readings."