Defense Min. Ya'alon: 'English Speakers' Trying to Topple Netanyahu

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon on Sunday accused "English-speakers" of orchestrating a massive effort to get out the vote among left-wing and Arab Israelis.

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Speaking at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya, Ya'alon said, "There is an unprecedented campaign here to encourage left-wing and Arab voters, and English-speakers are the ones doing it. There are non-profit organizations here that are funded by foreign money – European money and other groups that don't want to see Netanyahu [anymore]."

Ya'alon's remarks echo similar comments from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just days ago, in which he accused a "coalition" of forces of trying to increase voter turnout among Arabs and Israeli leftists on March 17.

“There is a coalition, with overt and covert motives, that seeks to topple the Likud government and replace it with a left-wing leadership,” said Netanyahu.

“I am talking about very powerful organizations with foreign funding in the tens of millions of shekels, equipped with strategists and advisers, seeking two main objectives: To increase the voter turnout among the Left; and to increase the voter turnout among the Arabs," he said. "These are well-funded organizations that can get the Arab [Joint] List up to 16 seats, thereby determining the overall result of the election.”