Orlev made the statement at a meeting of the Emuna organization, which took place in Jerusalem.
“Due to the blunders – failures in security, political and civic matters - that were exposed during this war, and in light of the embarrassing situation of the country in the fields of Jewish identity, education, welfare and social cohesiveness – a national emergency government must be established to rehabilitate and strengthen the state and unify the nation against the harsh threats it is facing,” Orlev said.
In response, fellow MK in the joint National Union-National Religious Party faction Uri Ariel said that the Olmert government must be brought down, not rescued. “An anti-social government that harms Aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel) and evades investigation of the war must be toppled and not rescued,” Ariel said.
Orlev told Arutz-7 that he was sorry that MK Ariel did not confer with him prior to his statements. The NRP chairman said that he agrees that the government must be brought down due to its failures. “In its place, a national emergency rehabilitation government should be established by all the Jewish parties,” he clarified, calling on Ariel to repudiate his previous statements.
The National Union and National Religious parties joined forces prior to the previous election. Part of the unity agreement was a clause stipulating conditions whereby the NRP would be able to split and join the ruling government. The conditions require deliberations of a committee set up by the two factions.