Yishai 'ready to carry out political shockwave'
Interior minister threatens to resign from coalition if socio-economic protests aren't solved
Interior Minister Eli Yishai threatened on Thursday to withdraw from the coalition if no solution is found for the socio-economic crisis.
In a meeting with Yokneam local authority leaders focusing on the recent protest he said, "I'm ready to carry out political shockwaves in the coalition if there is no progress and no solutions are found."
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Yishai added, "I want to sit with you, the local authority leaders and hear possible solutions to the housing and social crises.
This is not the first time Yishai has made threats in relation to the social protests which began a month ago. Three weeks ago the interior minister said that if the housing crisis was not solved, the Shas party would withdraw from the coalition.
In contrast to Yishai, Netanyahu's senior coalition partner Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman remains ambivalent to the demonstrations. He recently criticized the protests claiming that Tel Aviv's cafes were full to capacity – and not with tycoons.
Meanwhile, Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz re-visited Tel Aviv's "tent city" on Thursday to present the new public transportation plan before protesters, after the recent reform was harshly criticized.
"I think the message is that eventually nothing can be solved without dialogue. I am here as a government minister and member of the socioeconomic cabinet, which is supposed to stand guard," Katz said.
President Shimon Peres met Thursday with Professor Manuel Trachtenberg and his team of experts, tasked by the government with devising a solution for the growing social unrest.
"I cannot remember the last time any committee faced such a complex task, so your blessing and your insight are very important to us," he told the president.
The social team, Trachtenberg added, "Is facing a very tight schedule. We need to formulate a responsible – albeit rapid – response, because the public rightfully expects to see a practical change."
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