Tzipi Livni
Tzipi LivniFlash 90

The intended Justice Minister, Tzipi Livni, attacked the partnership between Bayit Yehudi head MK Naftali Bennett and Yesh Atid head MK Yair Lapid at week's end.

"The disagreements between me and the Bayit Yehudi are very deep," Livni told Channel 10. "Regrettably, the pact between Lapid and Bennett inserted those elements into the government."

"I hope that on the diplomatic subjects, Lapid won't adopt Bennett's views," she added. "I expect that in this government, at least on diplomatic matters, we will receive support from Bayit Yehudi and the pact will not lead to substantive issues being blocked. It is not going to be easy; I am going to fight. There are subjects on which, at least as far as I understand, they are not of the same mind."

Livni reacted to Yesh Atid and Bayit Yehudi's demands to reopen the agreement between Likud and her party, Hatnua. "The government is not a bunch of guys you hang out with," she explained. "I am not here to have fun. Lapid and Bennett tried to diminish Hatnua's authority in the government; it was a kind of spin that did not work."

Livni said that as the Chair of the Ministerial Committee on Legislation, she would block the Jewish Nation Law, which is a part of Likud's agreement with Bayit Yehudi. The law changes the balance between Israel's "democratic" and "Jewish" nature, and makes it clear that of the two principles, the definition of the state's Jewish nature is the more important one.

The law would downgrade the status of the Arabic language as an official language and would promote construction policies that favor Jews.