As Israelis prepare to go back to the polls for the third time in fewer than 12 months, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised on Sunday that if reelected, he would declare sovereignty over parts of Israel “within weeks.”
Speaking with Israel’s public radio, Netanyahu said his first “major, immediate mission” of four if reelected would be to “declare sovereignty over areas of the homeland,” including the Jordan Valley and Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.
“That will happen within weeks, two months at the most, I hope,” he said, adding that the “joint U.S.-Israeli mapping committee started work a week ago.”
His other priorities, he said, are signing a “historic” defense treaty with the United States, “eradicating the Iranian threat and peace with additional Arab countries,” as well as reforming Israel’s economy to bring down the high cost of living.
The March 2 elections come after neither Netanyahu nor Blue and White Party head Benny Gantz were able to cobble together a coalition following the country’s April 9 and Sept. 17 elections.
The elections take place in the context of a pending trial against Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three corruption inquiries, set to begin on March 17.
Netanyahu said on Saturday in an interview with Ynet that he would not seek a plea deal in the corruption cases following the election.