Herzog: If Netanyahu Boots Jewish Home, We’ll Consider Joining

YERUSHALAYIM
Isaac Herzog at a Zionist Camp party meeting in March. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Yitzchak Herzog at a Zionist Camp party meeting. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Zionist Camp head Yitzchak Herzog said over the weekend that he himself had not closed the door on joining the coalition – but not in its current form. “Netanyahu must get a divorce from the far right,” he said. “That means Jewish Home, and if Netanyahu removes them from his coalition, we will consider entering. Netanyahu chose to work with the far right, and I do not foresee a scenario in which he changes that. If he lets them go we will meet and decide. I am not a dictator, but the head of a diverse group.”

In an interview with Channel Two, Finance Minister Moshe Kachlon said that he was very interested in seeing Zionist Camp enter the government, despite the fact that the coalition was now “secure,” with 66 MKs. “This is a time for brave decisions, for politicians to show their courage despite the pressures they face,” said Kachlon. “The door to the government is still open. There are important ministry positions that are still vacant, and that is not by chance. A decision has to be made to join the government.”

Kahlon also said that he believes in the peace process. “We are not dovish, we are people who want to advance the peace process,” he said of his Kulanu MKs. “I believe that Jews have the right to settle the Land of Israel, but in the end there will be two states for two peoples here.” Regarding Avigdor Liberman, Kachlon said that “I would not be surprised if at the end of the day we find that he turns out to be a pragmatic minister. I believe that he can bring about some important changes.”

In his own interview with Channel Two, Education Minister Naftali Bennett said that he would not allow the government to go into negotiations leading to a Palestinian state. “We will pull out of the government if talks leading to a division of the Land of Israel and the establishment of Palestine take place,” he said.

Netanyahu has reportedly been reaching out to Yesh Atid head Yair Lapid as well, but in a weekend event, Lapid reiterated that his party would not join the coalition.

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