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Gal-On: Did not foresee Left-Right tie
Photo: Benny Deutsch

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

Meretz Chairwoman Zahava Gal-On is convinced that Benjamin Netanyahu will not complete a third term as prime minister, despite the fact that Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid has ruled out the formation of an obstructive Center-Left bloc to prevent Netanyahu from heading the next Israeli government and is expected to recommend to President Shimon Peres that he entrust the Likud leader with forming the next coalition.

 

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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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."

 


גלאון. "יש לי צרות של מנצחים" (צילום: אבישג שאר- ישוב)

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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פרסום ראשון: 01.24.13, 18:53
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