PM to Livni: Follow in Begin's footsteps, join coalition
Kadima chairwoman meeting PR experts, strategists who accompanied former PM Sharon, but officials say chances her party will join Likud-led coalition are slim. MK Aflalo says wants to split from party immediately
Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni has not ruled out the possibility of joining the coalition and was discussing the issue with a group of advisors ahead of her scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu later on Sunday.
The group consists of strategists and PR experts that had accompanied former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon throughout the years.
Sources within the political establishment said they do not believe Kadima will join the Likud-led government.
Netanyahu stressed on Saturday that he has no intention of reopening coalition agreements that were signed during the formation of the unity government, following talks aimed at bringing Kadima into the government.
"I expect a quick response from Livni and hope she understands the magnitude of the issue at hand," Netanyahu told his advisors.
During Sunday's cabinet meeting, Netanyahu called on Kadima to join the government "just as (deceased Herut movement leader) Menachem Begin had done" prior to the outbreak of the Six Day War in 1967.
"The challenges national and security-related challenges Israel is facing today are similar to the challenges we faced back then," the PM told cabinet.
In 1967 Begin joined a unity government headed by prime minister Levi Eshkol as a minister without portfolio.
Meanwhile, member of Knesset Eli Aflalo said in a conversation with Ynet Sunday that if the Kadima faction would agree that he split off from the party via a Knesset House Committee decision, "this should be done now."
Sources in Kadima are considering allowing Aflalo to split from the party immediately. If this were to occur, Likud would need seven more members of Knesset besides Aflalo to institute a legal split in Kadima. MK Carmel Shama (Likud) plans to submit a bill that would thwart such a move.
The so-called Mofaz Law allows a group of at least seven lawmakers from the same party to break away and form its own faction or join another faction. According to Shama's proposed amendment, should one MK split from a faction on his own, the remaining six lawmakers would be permitted to join him a year later.
The proposal drew harsh criticism from Kadima. "Likud's proposal is a public disgrace," said Deputy Kadima Faction Chairman MK Yohanan Plesner. "Netanyahu is using MK Shama to change laws and regulations that are aimed at preventing the lowest form of political strings-pulling."
Kadima is considering asking the Knesset House Committee to determine that Aflalo is an MK who resigned from his party, thus subjecting him to severe sanctions. The law states that an MK who left his political faction but did not resign from the Knesset will not be able to serve as a minister or deputy minister during the current Knesset term. However, sources in the Knesset estimated that the chances such a request would be accepted are slim.
Amnon Meranda contributed to the report
