Blue & White MK Miki Haimovich said on Sunday that there are growing elements within the party who wish to break off the governmental partnership with Likud in an effort to oust Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
"In recent days, a growing group within Blue & White is certainly considering the option of responsible disbandment of the cooperation with Likud. Not to give up the centers of power, but to act to replace Netanyahu," Haimovich told Kan Radio.
Haimovic's statement comes a day after violent clashes erupted on Saturday between police and protesters demanding Netanyahu's ouster for his indictments in three graft cases and what they deem to be his bungled handling of the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent financial crisis.
The centrist lawmaker herself voted against an amendment to a coronavirus emergency law that prohibits Israelis from holding demonstrations farther than one kilometer (0.6 miles) from home, breaking party discipline.
Over the weekend, Tourism Minister Assaf Zamir resigned from the government, explaining in a statement on Friday that limiting demonstrations was the straw that broke the camel's back for him and claiming that the move stemmed from the premier's wish to stifle criticism against him and not rein in the spread of coronavirus.
Following Zamir's resignation, Blue & White party leader, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, decided to take a more hardline stance against Netanyahu and Likud and appoint a permanent state prosecutor despite Likud's opposition and despite a clause in the coalition agreement between the party saying that both sides must agree on such appointments of senior government officials. He also called for the appointment of a permanent police commissioner.
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Blue & White MK Miki Haimovich surrounded by police during anti-Netanyahu protests in Tel Aviv
(Photo: Moti Kimchi)
"The lack of stability and a sense of loss of control over the management of the epidemic necessitate the restoration governance," Ganz said. "It is no longer possible to continue with this chaos that disrupts the lives of dozens of old and young citizens every day."
Ganz hinted at the possibility that Blue & White would insist on the move, even at the cost of early elections.
"We have joined a government whose job is to eradicate coronavirus and not democracy or the rule of law. Whoever doesn't like it – can set a date for an election."