Yitzhak Herzog
Yitzhak HerzogMiriam Alster/Flash 90

Knesset Members from the Zionist Union party on Wednesday night used harsh words to describe Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s new 61-member coalition.

In statements released shortly after Netanyahu announced a deal with Jewish Home, the Zionist Union members vowed to work to make sure the new coalition is short-lived.

The party’s leader Yitzhak Herzog said, “Today a government of national failure was established.”

"Instead of working for the establishment of a government that will benefit the public, Netanyahu proved that his survival is more important than improving the quality of life of Israeli citizens who are yearning for change,” he added.

MK Tzipi Livni said after the coalition was formed, “Some say that a government of 61 [MKs] is bad. They are wrong. What is not good is the government itself.”

“The government that was announced is not good for Israel in its worldview, values, objectives, and therefore it is good that it is a 61-person government so that it will be easier to replace it with a government that will lead Israel our way,” she added.

MK Yoel Hasson said, “The bad coalition that was established tonight threatens the Supreme Court, democracy and the weak man in Israel.”

“The Zionist Union will lead the opposition starting today, and will fight this shaky government, which will lead Israel into a binational, isolated and polarized state. The days of this dark government are numbered, which is good,” continued Hasson.

“But until it falls, the opposition will present a real alternative to the government in all fields and at the first opportunity will establish an alternative government, already in the current Knesset,” he added.

Meanwhile, MK Itzik Shmuli said, “It is unclear how the big winner of the election managed to fail to negotiate and sold all of Israel's national interests to sectoral parties. The result is very bad in almost every area.”

“Fortunately, Netanyahu’s shrunken and tattered coalition will not last long and we will fight it with all our might,” he added.

Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid also took time to condemn the new government, saying, “The ‘clearance sale government’ is underway tonight. A government built out of sectoral parties which extort the public purse and a Prime Minister who is willing to sell his country for his seat. Yesh Atid will fight this evil government on all fronts.”