Herzog: Netanyahu ignored social protest, an irredeemable sin
'He hasn't spoken about housing for six years, blamed Olmert and all of a sudden he says he's responsible. The prime minister owes the public answers,' Zionist Union leader says.
Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog, the only other leading contender for the post of prime minister, slammed incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday, after the prime minister said last week that he would handle with the housing crisis during his next term.
"I heard him say that he identified the crisis in housing a long time ago and that he would fix it next time. The fact he ignored social protests in the past few years is a sin that cannot be redeemed," Herzog said during a cultural event in Rishon LeZion.
"He hasn't spoken about housing for six years, laid the blame on (former PM Ehud) Olmert and all of a sudden he says he's responsible. So on which Netanyahu are we talking about? The prime minister needs to provide the public with answers. I expect a leader who intends to lead to provide the public with answers and not evade or escape. He's been hiding throughout the entire elections campaign. He didn't confront the problems or discuss them," he went on to say.
He criticized Netanyahu's decision to accept an invitation from the Republican party to speak in front of the US Congress on Iran, which was made without first consulting with the White House.
"Imagine if the Knesset invited the leader of a friendly state without the government and the prime minister being involved in the process. Would anyone have accepted that? It's incomprehensible."
Discussing voting patterns, Herzog said that Jews who immigrated to Israel from the Soviet Union used to vote for right-wing parties but that now, things have changed. "We're seeing a change in a public that used to be deeply rooted in the right-wing. Today they seek a change and a better life, the ability to buy an apartment under reasonable conditions and to make a decent living, but the cost of living is killing them."
He rallied his supporters, telling them the party's recent lead in the polls did not mean the elections were over.
"I don't think we can determine that the elections are over. The final days are crucial and in order to replace Netanyahu, I need a considerable mandate from the public," Herzog said.
He stressed that the Zionist Union party needed to expand its gap over the Likud party. "I need to have a clear and certain gap so that I could form a significant coalition, because this is almost our last chance to change the way the country looks. The public is tired of Benjamin Netanyahu and his failing rule. I offer responsibility and I intend to win and for that I need significant political power. It won't make a difference for Yesh Atid if they got one seat more or one seat less, but one seat more for the Zionist Union will have a significant impact."
Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, speaking at the same cultural event, vowed his party will not sit in a government that doesn't fight corruption.
"A man who was convicted of a crime that involves moral turpitude could not be an MK, a minister or a mayor in Israel," he said.
He also called for an end to "coalition funds," money originating in a state budget surplus and directed towards purposes chosen by a party that is a member of the coalition.
"We're the only party in the past 20 years that did not take these funds," he claimed. "If there's (extra) money, you need to give it to the handicapped, the blind, and whoever needs it."
Lapid also demanded complete transparency in the activity of the Settlement Division.
Ahead of the vote on Tuesday, Lapid said that "this isn't a game of seats. You're going to vote based on values and all of this talk about moving seats from here to there is inappropriate and unacceptable to me."
The Yesh Atid chairman did not spare criticism from the two main contenders for the office of prime minister - Netanyahu and Herzog. "There is a sort of a liquidation sale done on both sides. Both Netanyahu and Herzog are promising the Haredim behind the scenes that they would cancel the burden equality law," Lapid accused.
