Meretz MK: Lieberman worse than Haider, Le Pen
Zahava Gal-On sends special letter to Labor Party's Central Committee members, asking them to vote against staying in government alongside Israel Our Home. 'You have the means to prevent Israeli democracy from sure death,' she says
Several Labor Knesset members, including Minister Ophir Pines-Paz, have already begun leading a line of resistance against Chairman Amir Peretz's stance, and on Saturday they received some support from outside the party as well.
"Lieberman, the extreme right-wing settler, and his party, are members of the dubious club of extreme right-wing parties with populistic-fascist characteristics. Le Pen in France and Haider in Austria are lightweight compared to him," Gal-On wrote.
According to the Meretz faction chairman, supporting Israel Our Home's inclusion in the government is "lending a hand to a moral and ethical corruption of the State of Israel."
"You have the means to prevent Israeli democracy from a chronic of sure death," she told Labor members.
In spite of Gal-On's letter and the resolution initiated by Labor ministers, the Central Committee is expected to okay Peretz's decision and allow the faction to remain in a government which will also include Lieberman.
Will Pines-Paz resign?
MK Shelly Yacimovich announced Saturday afternoon that contrary to what was reported by those who formulated the resolution against staying in the government – Minister Pines-Paz and MK Danny Yatom – she did not fight the letter.
Yacimovich made it clear, however, that she is against sitting in the government with Lieberman.
Senior Labor Party sources said Thursday that there was a possibility that Minister Pines-Paz would resign from office on Sunday after the Central Committee's meeting due to his objection to the move.
Pines-Paz told Ynet, "I am not considering it at the moment; I have not made a decision yet. After the Labor Party's Central Committee makes it decision on Sunday, I will sit down and consider how to continue."
Peretz was furious over Pines-Paz's conduct and is expected to voice harsh remarks on the issue during the Central Committee meeting.
Regarding the intra-party system, Peretz said that he views the period after the meeting as a new era in which Labor ministers will be united by his side, including designated deputy defense minister Ephraim Sneh and the party's potential next faction chairman, MK Yoram Marciano, whom he supports.
