Yachimovich: Polls show Likud losing votes

Nearing elections see parties' leaders courting votes. Labor chair urges Left, Center to rally behind her; Kadima's Mofaz says parties should aspire to form unity government

Moran Azulay|Published: 01.12.13 , 14:05

With the elections just 10 days away, the leaders of the Left and Center parties "made the rounds" Saturday, speaking to potential voters in a bid to maximize whatever leverage they may have.

Labor Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich said Saturday that if her party wins 25 mandates President Shimon Peres will task her with forming the new government.

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"I know it's only a slim possibility, but it's still a possibility," she said. "Recent polls show that Netanyahu is weaker than ever and that the Likud gets no more than 21 seats."

Yachimovich further urged the public to vote in January 22's election: "I call on anyone who cares about this county to go out and vote."

She further criticized Hatnua Chairwoman Tzipi Livni for not joining forces with Labor, saying: "I made her the ultimate offer to form the kind of force that could replace Netanyahu. It was done discretely and without a media spin… I urge to do as I did and declare that she will not join a Likud government and to endorse me for prime minister."

Livni, attending an even in Jerusalem, said that she would not join a government promoting blatantly right-wing policies, but added that "The bigger my mandate, the more impact I'll have on creating a policy that works with the world and not against it."

Kadima Chairman Shaul Mofaz said Saturday that the political parties must aspire to form a unity government, in order to tempter the radical forces pulling at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid addressed the social gaps in Israel, pledging again that his party will fight to instate universal draft and minimize the economical gaps.

"No country in the world can survive for long when half of its citizens don't participate in the social, economical and defense life. Israel's middle class isn't Netanyahu's ATM machine."