Blue and White, Labor Sign Coalition Deal

The Blue and White Party on Friday morning signed a coalition deal with the Labor Party, after Blue and White had signed earlier in the week with the Likud.

According to the deal, Labor Chairman MK Amir Peretz will serve as Economy and Industry Ministry. MK Itzik Shmuli will serve as Welfare and Social Services Minister. Peretz is also set to become a member of the Political-Security Cabinet, while Shmuli will be part of the Knesset’s legislative committee.

Blue and White Chairman MK Benny Gantz said, “I congratulate Labor Chairman MK Amir Peretz, who is an experienced parliamentary and ministerial leader and represents a very important and significant social issue, and MK Itzik Shmuli, one of the most diligent and social MKs, on joining the Blue and White bloc in the new government.”

MK Peretz said: “We are joining a unity government of equality, with a rotation for the seat of prime minister in another year and a half. In the new government, we will take the lead on social policies, which will rebuild the welfare situation and handle the economic consequences of the coronavirus crisis.”

Explaining his party’s decision to join a government led by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Shmuli said: “Facing a million unemployed, collapsing entrepreneurs, and young pensioners who are begging for help, we can’t stand on the sidelines – we must be their voice and their shield within the government. The government which we agreed to join is a national and equal emergency government. We will be part of the Blue and White bloc, and we intend to advance a true social policy.”