Avrum to Netanyahu: If you’re guilty — go to prison and pay the price. And if not — fight to the end!

Avraham Burg, co-chair of the “All Its Citizens” party, responds in an interview with the Qatari channel Al Jazeera to questions that concern viewers across the Arab world.

This is a translation of some of the questions and answers, while the full interview appears in the video below. How do you view the pardon request that Netanyahu submitted to President Herzog regarding the cases in which he is standing trial?

– It’s insane. Because if you’re guilty — go to prison and pay the price. And if not — fight to the end!But what Netanyahu wants is a VIP-style trial — and that’s not going to happen. For the state to become subordinate to the United States, which already manages our army, and now might also end up managing our judicial system — that’s insane.

The Israeli opposition said it has no objection, but on condition that Netanyahu retire from political life. Do you agree with the opposition’s conditions?

– I don’t think there is a real opposition at all. They are taking a very soft stance on the issue because they support Netanyahu’s exit from the political system. But my view is different:If you want to defeat Netanyahu — defeat him politically. And if there are problems — let the court decide.For the opposition to actually remove Netanyahu, they need to understand that his supporters are deeply rooted in society, and therefore the problem is how to remove Netanyahu-ism, not Netanyahu the individual.

Who really rules Israel? Netanyahu — or Smotrich, Ben-Gvir, and the settlers?

That’s a good question.

The ideology on which Israel currently leans is a very rigid and very conservative ideology — the ideology of the settlers and the Israeli nationalists.And Netanyahu is the conductor of the orchestra: he has a great deal of power and influence, and he plays every component of the system. His power is significant.I don’t like him and I don’t vote for him, but I must acknowledge his leadership skills. He is a very strong leader, and the ideology he leads is destructive and dangerous. It is a combination of the ideology and the man himself — Netanyahu.

Can Israel ever feel secure the way you want — while it holds territories in Lebanon and Syria, kills children in Gaza, and settlers attack Palestinians in the West Bank?

– That’s also a good question.A few years ago, there was a conflict between the Emiratis and the Qataris — and the conflict continues.Jews have suffered for a long time throughout history, and this will not be resolved in one Knesset session.Therefore, the best way is to convince Israelis that the alternative to force and weapons is a good peace, an appropriate regional arrangement — like what Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat did. That is what the region needs.There are certain movements now, developments happening.And if the challenge facing Israelis is to continue living a life of fear and anxiety and lose the opportunity to advance and integrate into the region — then most Israelis say: Let’s give this a chance.

As an Israeli and a former public figure — how do you see the global shift in attitudes toward Israel, especially in Western countries and among young people?You used to say: “We are the light in this dark region.” Now, in the eyes of some parts of the world and some countries, you are seen as a state committing genocide, killing children and women. Support for you is declining. How do you see this?

I don’t want to use the term “genocide” — it is a legal term. Not everything should be legalistic.

The issue is moral: it is morally wrong.I see a split in public opinion. On one hand, there are people expressing solidarity with the Palestinians — with our Palestinian Muslim brothers — and that evokes empathy.But on the other hand, there are many — even here in the Gulf — who say that Israel is doing “the dirty work” on their behalf.We hear both voices.And my impression is that if any peace agreement is ever signed, it must be not only between leaders but also between peoples.The current generation is different from the generation of the 1970s, the generation of the peace agreement with Egypt; and it is different from the generation of Oslo.Therefore, Israelis’ reaction will also be different.