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Itongadol.- Opposition leader Isaac Herzog said last night that his Zionist Union faction will not join Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, but indicated he would support the premier’s opposition to the Iran nuclear deal from the outside.
“This government needs to be replaced,” he said. “Benjamin Netanyahu needs to be replaced. He needs to be sent home.”
Herzog made the statement at the Labor Party convention. (Zionist Union is a joint ticket comprised of Labor and Tzipi Livni’s Hatnuah party.)
Senior officials from both Labor and Likud have confirmed that over the past few months, the parties have discussed the possibility of Zionist Union joining the government. But in his speech to the convention,Herzog was unequivocal: “I say no to crawling into Netanyahu’s extreme right-wing government.”
Nevertheless, he added, the opposition might well support the government from outside on certain issues, primarily those relating to national security, even if this “doesn’t serve our political interests for the moment.”
Herzog also used his address to appeal to Yair Lapid, chairman of the Yesh Atid party, which is also in opposition.
“I won’t be your bro, but we’ve been sentenced to cooperate in the campaign to replace the government,” he said. “I’m offering you fair and honest cooperation toward the day when we run the state. If we have the sense to conduct ourselves this way, it will be better for our entire camp.”
Says he will run for PM\’s seat again
Herzog stressed that he plans to run for prime minister in the next election as well.
“I once again say, and have repeated over and over and over, and if there’s anyone who was busy when I last said it, or has been listening to pundits who give me grades and each time are mistaken about me again, or who prefers not to listen, I’ll repeat it again: This failed government, which is responsible for the high cost of living, the high cost of housing, the failure to reach a fair [natural] gas deal for Israel’s citizens; which has led to an inconceivable rift with our best friend in the world, the United States, and to the freezing of all diplomatic processes; which has damaged the media, the justice system and the foundations of our democratic fabric – this government must be replaced today. We mustn’t give it a lifeline or a hand. We must replace it today, tomorrow, as soon as possible.”
Responding to criticism of how Zionist Union ran the last campaign, Herzog said, “We didn’t manage to reach the hearts of those whose hands trembled at the thought of voting for Bibi again, but were deterred at the last minute from giving us their trust. I’m open and attentive to your criticism. That’s my task and that’s my style of leadership – I accept criticism and internalize it. But I ask you all, at the same time, to always see the three-quarters of the cup that is full.
“I’m opening my heart to you this evening, and always,” he continued. “My political life has been entwined with many of those sitting here in this hall. We’re leading a movement, and I promise you that together, we’ll achieve victory. I’m not concealing and I’m not whitewashing; I’m very strict in what I demand of myself. I’ll investigate, and I’ll make corrections.”
Turning to last week’s nuclear deal between Iran and the major world powers, Herzog added, “I say no to bolstering the Iranian reign of terror. No to the failed Netanyahu government that failed to prevent this bad agreement. Yes to rehabilitating our relationship with the United States, which Bibi destroyed, no to the prime minister’s divisiveness and incitement, which sets parts of the Israeli public against each other. No to crawling into Netanyahu’s extreme right-wing government. Yes to lowering the cost of living. Yes to the war on poverty. Yes to a fairer and more equal distribution of wealth among different parts of the population.”