Meretz leader: Netanyahu will fall; elections within a year
Gal-On, whose party doubled its Knesset representation, says PM will not be able to face 'huge challenges' without unity government
Lapid, whose party secured 19 Knesset seats in Tuesday's national elections, effectively making it the second-largest party in the Knesset, said Wednesday "We will not team with (Balad MK) Zoabi to form an obstructive bloc – that is just not going to happen. The results of the election are clear and we have to work accordingly."
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Lapid: Government of moderates needed
But Gal-On, whose parry doubled its representation from three to six seats, said "Huge challenges await us – (US President Barack) Obama, the international community, settlements, the deficit and tax increases.
If Netanyahu does not succeed in passing the budget within 45 days, the government could fall."
Gal-On: Netanyahu will fall (Photo: Avishag Shaar-Yashuv)
"There is no way Netanyahu will be able to face these challenges without a unity government," Gal-On said this week.
"Therefore, I urge my partners – let's let him fall. Let Orit Struk (Habayit Hayehudi) and Danny Danon (Likud) try.
In the meantime there will be an obstructive bloc. It all depends on Lapid. In our scenario, the next elections will be held within a year from today."
Gal-On thrilled
Addressing Meretz's achievement in the elections, Gal-On said "I am particularly thrilled because when I was elected party chairwoman there was a delegitimization campaign against the Left. Being a leftist was almost considered treason.
But I decided not to give up and I refused to heed the advice of people who told me to talk less about peace and be a bit more socially-oriented. I said that all my life I have fought for equality, justice and liberty, so I talks about peace as well as about social issues.
The leftist voting public saw a brave party that does not zigzag or seeks support from the shallow center," she said.
Gal-On admitted that she did not foresee the near tie between the Left and Right political blocs following the elections: "I didn’t think this would happen. I thought the Right would be stronger and the next government would be more extreme."
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