Pines. Harsh attack
Photo: Niv Calderon
Herzog. 'Great achievements'
Photo: Yaron Brener
Labor MK slams 'pathetic' coalition agreement
Ophir Pines-Paz says 'survival deal' signed between Kadima, Labor 'lacks vision, guidelines and plan of action'
Knesset Member Ophir Pines-Paz (Labor)
on Tuesday harshly slammed the coalition agreement signed Monday between his party and Kadima,
saying "this is a survival deal which lacks vision, guidelines and a plan of action. It mostly deals with hand crossings and a working schedule."
"Another part repeats clauses which were never honored and which will not be implemented in the future most probably."
Pines added that "a considerable number of the clauses include a serious regression compared to the 2006 coalition agreement, particularly in terms of our commitments to the elderly and the approval of the State Budget, which Labor minister voted against as one.
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According to Pines, "Most of the party's fundamental demands were left unanswered, or were only marginally answered, and capitulation is evident in most clauses, excluding the university tuition fee which was the only demand fully accepted."
He added that "the mechanism determined in terms of the legal issue conceals an endless argument throughout the government's term, which in itself causes irreversible damage to the legal system, without the Labor Party clarifying that any violation of the agreements will lead to its immediate withdrawal from the coalition."
The MK personally attacked Labor Chairman Ehud Barak, saying that "defining Barak a senior deputy prime minister is pathetic and useless, as the law determines explicitly that the acting prime minister is the most senior minister."
According to Pines, "The agreement includes additional clauses which contradict the law or require intolerable and impossible amendments like the appointment of a person who is not an MK as the Knesset's opposition chairman."
Herzog: Deal benefits Labor
Internal Affairs Minister Isaac Herzog (Labor) was quick to defend the collation agreement. "The negotiations team reached very good achievements, and all our flags were raised as far as Labor and Barak are concerned: Social issues, the higher education, a stable coalition and defending the rule of law.
"In the social field there are significant additions for Israel's pensioners, a commitment to open the academic school year, the cancellation of taxes imposed on housewives and the strengthening of the rural and periphery communities and weak families."
According to Herzog, "The partnership clause provides infrastructure for reliable and good work between the prime minister and defense minister, and creates a relationship based on trust.
"The clause about the legal system bolsters the Supreme Court and determines real mechanisms which will prevent damage to the legal system and the Supreme Court. The entire agreement provides an atmosphere of seriousness and responsibility needed at this time," he concluded.
