Bibi: Peretz danger to economy
Former finance minister Netanyahu slams newly elected Labor party chairman, says Peretz’s primaries win constitutes genuine danger for Israeli society, economy
“Peretz resorts to cheap populism” Netanyahu said, adding that the Labor leader’s policies would lead to a dramatic rise in unemployment, curbed growth, tax increases, and deepening poverty.
Speaking before members of the world Likud in Jerusalem, the former finance minister stressed it was Likud’s economic policy that salvaged Israel’s economy, filled the State’s coffers with cash, and is now allowing the government to assist the poor.
Meanwhile, senior Likud party members are formulating a deal aimed at doing away with Likud party primaries in an attempt to quell internal ruling party tensions. Under the compromise deal, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon would obligate to holding a referendum on political questions, in exchange for being assured of the party’s leadership. In such case, Netanyahu would be guaranteed the second spot behind Sharon.
The proposal was presented to Sharon by a senior Likud minister last week before the Labor party primaries. According to the minister, Sharon did not dismiss the proposal out of hand.
Bibi may alienate voters
Once the final outcome of Labor elections was announced last week, Likud members associated with the party’s rightist faction started relaying messages to high ranking Likud officials, including the minister who met with the PM.
The messages conveyed that should Sharon agree to the proposal, Likud members would work to revoke the candidacy of Benjamin Netanyahu and Uzi Landau for party leadership and unite behind Sharon.
It appears the Likud increasingly understands the need to unite around the candidate most likely to attract voters in the contest against the rejuvenated Labor party.
These members understand that choosing Netanyahu as candidate, in light of the rise in poverty in the country and the widespread antagonism the former finance minister's economic plan spurred, is not necessarily a wise move.
"the messages I receive from the activists, including the people who led the struggle to convene the Likud Central Committee on the vote to push up the primaries, are that if Sharon is willing to commit to hold a referendum on any political move that includes withdrawal from territories, they will be willing to unite and end all internal conflicts," the minister who met with the prime minister told Ynet.
"These activists promised to withdraw the nomination of Netanyahu, and later Landau's. Let there be no mistake, we are talking about serious people who have intensively operated against the PM in the past," he added. "But the situation has changed, and they can see we have a problem now that Amir Peretz was elected.”
Ever since Peretz took office as the new Labor chairman, the Likud rebel faction and the Prime Minister's Office have been communicating in a bid to reach an agreement.
High ranking Likud sources told Ynet that already on Thursday, only a few hours after the Labor primaries' results came to light, Likud MKs contacted the PM's Office and relayed messages on the need to unite ahead of the next general elections.
Sharon has also spoken with a prominent MK of the rebel group who reportedly expressed "messages of reconciliation" following tensions between the two figures.
Rebels: Change can't be ignored
Contacts between the prime minister and his Likud opponents continued over the weekend. At a private event attended by a number of staff from the Prime Minister's Office, as well as Knesset Members Gilad Arden and Michael Ratzon, contacts between the two sides were held in an attempt to find a way to move forward together ahead of the next elections.
"We are holding secret talks, and all options are open," said a Likud rebel. "The political atmosphere has changed, without a doubt. Something happened here. It can't be ignored. In the near future there will be a Likud leadership contest, and we'll know who will lead the movement. In any case, the next step must be carefully thought out."
Sharon's aides, on the other hand, are refusing to clear the fog and have denied all reports. "We don't want to bring elections forward," a Sharon aide told Ynet. "We simply don't want early elections."
The source said he believed that Sharon would run for Likud leadership, but pointed out that "it will be a very difficult battle. It's still not clear what the outcome will be, but it will be very interesting."
