Leaders of the liberal Zionist parties seek forming a new alliance with the settler right-wing opposition party to establish a true unity government without Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Israel really needs a true national unity government, which includes political forces from the far right and all liberal Zionist parties, to put an end to Netanyahu’s rule and the threats his policy pose on the judiciary and law enforcement authority,” according to a senior source from Yesh Atid-Telem party, headed by opposition leader Yair Lapid.
He pointed out to the successful experience in forming the “Brothers' Alliance” between Lapid and head of the New Right party Naftali Bennett a few years ago.
There is an urgent need for such an alliance today, he stressed, saying the two parties disagree on many political issues, yet they are capable of addressing most of what Netanyahu’s government has failed to deal with.
These include controlling the coronavirus outbreak, addressing the economic crisis sweeping the country as a result of wrong decisions taken to fight the COVID-19 disease, stopping the rhetoric of strife, preserving the rule of law and allowing the judiciary to operate independently and away from the political influence of Netanyahu and his close associates.
Minister of Defense Benny Gantz, also alternative premier, along with his comrades in the Blue and White Party Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, Justice Minister Avi Nissenkorn and others are ready for a partnership, sources noted.
On Monday evening, Gantz addressed Israelis after settling the government crisis by extending the vote on the budget for three more months.
“This settlement saved Israel from holding the fourth elections that would have dragged the country into civil war.”
Although he pledged to continue working with Netanyahu in the government, yet Gantz declared he was not at ease.
Netanyahu and his Likud members are adopting a policy that is far from democratic values and threatens the rule of law, he stressed.
“In order to prevent costly and exhausting fourth elections, I accepted to share a government with a man facing serious corruption allegations, but he did not respect this sacrifice and did not appreciate it,” Gantz said.
