Channels

'Likud can't contribute.' Olmert
Photo: Flash 90
'Likud a nightmare.' Gal-On
Photo: Dudi Vaaknin
'Extremist list.' MK Whbee
Photo: Knesset website

Kadima: Likud held captive by extremist Right

Ruling party, Meretz quick to criticize Netanyahu's roster for upcoming general elections. Olmert says Likud will lead Israel to 'solitude', while MK Vilan says Bibi's party has united new anti-peace front

"From this evening on it can't be covered up anymore, once again the Likud is held captive by the extreme Right, which is trying to get to power and realize its extremist policies together with (Chairman) Benjamin Netanyahu," the Kadima party said with the publication of the results from the Likud primary elections in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

 

Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said "Likud is a rightist party and will stay a rightist party that will lead Israel into a corner of solitude, into the difficult days that we wanted to get out of.

 

"If Bibi (Netanyahu), Moshe Yaalon and Moshe Feiglin are the most prominent figures in the Likud, it is clear that these are extreme rightists and in my opinion will cause much political harm to the State of Israel," said Olmert, a former Likud member himself and now a member of the ruling Kadima party.

 

"During (former prime minister) Menachem Begin Likud was a party of peace, but today I do not believe it can do Israel any good."

 

Labor Chairman Ehud Barak said in response to the Likud party's primary elections "we woke up this morning to a rightist list - even an extreme rightist list, that makes it clear what awaits us.

  

"Today it is clearer to everyone that at the center of any future government will stand the Labor party, and not Kadima – a party that is very hard to identify what it is made of," he said, "Kadima is not the answer to the extremism within Likud." 

 

Knesset Speaker Dalia Itzik, who also heads Kadima's campaign headquarters, told Ynet that Likud's new roster will make it difficult to form a coalition. "I believe Likud should be a part of the government (Kadima Chairwoman) Tzipi Livni will establish, but its roster troubles me. Likud is saying no to the citizens and the economy and yes to extremism.

 

"This is a happy day for Kadima, but a sad day for Israel. Now it is clear that the choice is between Livni and Feiglin," she added.

 

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Majalli Whbee said that the "Likud is presenting an extremist list that is looking to lead Israel toward social and political deadlock.

 

"Likud's roster not only includes Moshe Feiglin, it has adopted his outlook," the Kadima MK added.

 

'List symbolizes dire hopelessness'

Minister of Housing and Construction Ze'ev Boim (Kadima) added that the "rebels and extremists are now ruling Likud. Just as (former Prime Minister) Ariel Sharon came to the realization that Likud has no future, Bibi will also eventually reach this conclusion and will be forced to establish a new party."

 

The Meretz-Yahad Party was also quick to criticize Likud's new Knesset roster, with Chairman Chaim Oron saying "the masquerade is over; the Likud has exposed its true face. Feiglin's addition to the party has rendered it an extremist list.

 

"The public will now have to choose between the Likud and the alternative, which will strive for peace and conduct dialogue with the US and the entire world, as well as tackle the economic problems (Likud Chairman Benjamin) Netanyahu is responsible for," he said.

 

Fellow Meretz MK Zahava Gal-On referred to Likud's roster as "nightmarish", saying it would "undermine" any attempt to reach a peace agreement.

 

According to MK Avshalom Vilan, also of Meretz, Likud has "united the new anti-peace front.

 

"The combination of Feiglin, (Moshe) Yaalon and the rest of the 'rebels' is the sure way to reach a new political fixation which will guarantee more violence in the Middle East, if the Likud wins the next elections," he said.

 

Labor Secretary-General Knesset Member Eitan Cabel (Labor) commented said that the "Bibi-Feiglin list symbolizes dire hopelessness, which leaves no room to pursue real peace.

  

"The extreme rightist (nature) of the list shows that Labor supporters have no other way than Labor's values," he said.  

 


פרסום ראשון: 12.09.08, 09:15
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment