Zionist Camp Slams Likud for Unity Rumors

Zionist Camp leaders are bristling at the way the Likud is exploiting the possibility of bringing them into the coalition, which they see as an effort to lower the demands of the Jewish Home party, a source close to Isaac Herzog was quoted in the Israeli media as saying.

Netanyahu’s No. 2, Interior Minister Gilad Erdan, said the Likud may have to turn to the center-left party to form a stable government, and retiring Likud minister Limor Livnat said she supported a unity government in order to quell international pressure.

But Zionist Camp insists it will sit in the opposition.

“Let us try to end the speculation,” Labor faction chairman Eitan Cabel wrote in an online statement. “The Zionist Camp is going to the opposition! Every morning I am impressed by the scenarios suggested by the analysts, but negotiations are taking place only in their minds. It could be a good movie, but it’s not news.”

Cabel contended that Netanyahu is incapable of the ideological shift required for a partnership with the Zionist Camp, and whoever expects him to change is deluded.

In other coalition news, Likud informed Jewish Home negotiators that the Foreign Ministry will continue to be the domain of Avigdor Lieberman, and they should desist from asking for it for their leader Naftali Bennett. Bennett has expressed an interest either that or the defense portfolio.

Other top positions, such as the justice and public security portfolios, are expected to remain with Likud, sources from the party said.

This article appeared in print on page 7 of the March 31st, 2015 edition of Hamodia.