Party officials rage against agreement with Yisrael Beiteinu, say it ‘changes our DNA’; Minister Michael Eitan says move ‘threatens Israeli democracy.’ Several minister mull counter vote on Tuesday
Likud officials initiated a petition for a discreet vote, to be held during the party’s Central Committee meeting on Tuesday, with aim of foiling the recent merger with Yisrael Beiteinu, Ynet learned on Friday.
.
“Bibi sold Likud out only to gain another term as prime minister,” said a Likud official, “He proved that he buckles under pressure… Lieberman will eventually become his successor.”
A senior Likud official said that the agreement aimed to “hurt Likud’s religious and Sephardic voters… our traditional voters are now likely to vote for either Shas or Habayit Hayehudi , while our secular voters will now vote for Yair Lapid.”
Likud activists were furious at the announcement: “This is not a ‘white meat’ party; we will not vote for a Russian party,” an activist wrote to a Likud official via SMS.
Netanyahu and Lieberman (Photo: Gil Yohanan)
“The merge utterly changes the party’s DNA,” said another senior Likud official. “Likud is affiliated with tradition and religion. We bring together the Sephardics and the Ashkenazim,” he said, “with Lieberman’s party on board – we’re heading at a totally different direction.”
Minister Michael Eitan was the only official who openly expressed his objection to the merger. He described it as being a “Likud clearance sale.”
Eitan also said the agreement is a “threat to Israeli democracy.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Eitan over the phone on Thursday and reportedly told him that, “This has to be done in order to empower the government.” Eitan told the PM in response that “In order to join forces we need common agenda, while Lieberman thinks of us as feinschmeckers.”
DNA does not mutate that fast!!!!!
@ Laura:
I think in Israel “white meat” refers to pork, i.e. Likud is more religious/traditional and Yisrael Beiteinu tends to be secular or anti-religious.
My comment got spammed filtered.
A combined voting list means that many Likud ministers and MK’s will be pushed down on the list to unrealistic slots ergo much of the opposition from within.
Shas and the religious parties whose constituents tend to be the groups most negatively effected by BB”s austerity policies will not support the Likud in coalition building after the elections. BB’s austerity policies hurts the poor and middle class here but enriches the rich and the entrenched Oligarchs. Populists parties in opposition and they are all Populist and demagogic will strip the likud of much of their support in the coming elections. BB’s policy in not protecting Southern Israel and allowing Iran to go nuclear do not add to his popular support either.
I have searched to find a single positive policy and or positive accomplishment that I can see of 4 years of BB’s tenure as PM. Nothing to point at directly attributed to BB and a Likud led coalition. NADA!!!!
BB’s internal Polling showed his Likud losing up to 10 seats in the elections and he needed a boost to ensure he would be picked first to form a coalition. Lieberman’s party again according to polls was in line to lose 1/3 of their seats. Labor riding a socialist populist wave might again become the dominant political party. Lapid’s new centrist party will bury Kadima siphon off all the malcontents from the other parties and it’s possible to have a 4 way tie between Likud/Lieberman, Labor, Lapid and Shas.
Because of Lieberman Shas and the Ultras will join in an anti-Likud coalition and the only real support will come from the national religious right. Not enough strength to form a coalition and why should the already burnt by BB/Likud support him again expecting a change?
If the coming election rids us permanently of BB, Barak and Lieberman and a few others, then their loss even to Labor could be worth the price.
BB will as he always does tact right before the election but that’s old hat and nobody today believes him.
I think he miscalculated by going to elections now probably on the advice of Arthur Finklestein.
Feiglin should now pack it in because he has been made totally irrelevant within the Likud.
Isn’t this attitude in itself racist?