Israeli Elections
Labor Knesset member Mirav Michaeli declared, “You don’t sell out the party of [David] Ben-Gurion, [Yitzhak] Rabin and [Shimon] Peres.”
Blue and White leader Benny Gantz seems prepared to accept annexation of some settlement blocs west of the security barrier as a part of a unity deal with Likud, bringing the two parties closer to an agreement.
As Blue and White, Yisrael Beiteinu and the Joint list get to work creating and staffing six special parliamentary committees, the Likud blasts the proceedings as “undemocratic” and “unprecedented.”
The group has expressed concern by the “opposition’s attempts to ignore the choice of the Zionist majority.” And it is disappointed with Blue and White, as well as Yisrael Beiteinu, for including the Arab Knesset members, “who are known for openly supporting the interests of Israel’s enemies.”
Israeli premier says Likud and rival Blue and White have agreed on the contours of a unity deal, but if Blue and White moves to oust Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, deal’s off • Gantz: “Those who want unity do not work with ultimatums.”
The goal of the negotiations is reportedly a broad, 105-member government, with a rotation agreement between Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz for the premiership.
“I have only one request of you: Give this people a government,” said Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.
The Arab-majority alliance’s endorsement is contingent on Blue and White leader Benny Gantz forming a center-left government, says Joint Arab List leader Ayman Odeh.
“We are in the midst of a global event unlike anything in the history of the state’s existence,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Likud Party minister Ze’ev Elkin told JNS that the first hurdle is that by working in partnership with the Arab parties, “Blue and White, and Lieberman are lying to their voters.”
“The law is unnecessary. At the time, it greatly wronged my people, but now it’s time to rethink it—and many other things,” says the Joint Arab List’s Aida Touma-Suleiman.
Knesset increases Blue and White leader Benny Gantz’s security detail after death threats against him following last week’s election are deemed credible.
