MK Moti Mishani of the three-seat Gesher faction told Arutz-7 today that his party will not join the government in place of the resigned National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu: \"There is no chance at all that Gesher will join the government now. The government has not changed its way, it has no political line or social line, and its only purpose is to stay in power.\" Gesher, headed by former Foreign Minister David Levy, and whose members are originally of the Likud, joined One Israel for the 1999 elections, but broke away during the Barak tenure.
Mishani acknowledged that he has heard preliminary talk of forming a nationalist bloc, even possibly including Shas and headed by Binyamin Netanyahu, \"but it must be looked into, and it is not clear whether it is at all practical.\" When asked if such a bloc might compete with the Likud for right-wing votes and thus lead to a victory by the left-wing, Mishani said, \"Under the current circumstances, there is no chance that a left-wing party will win. Even Barak, who won by a large majority, did so only in the personal election for Prime Minister, but the right-wing parties had a majority in the Knesset.\"
Mishani, although he is twice-exempt from reserve duty because of his age and his status as a Member of Knesset, has volunteered for special duty along the Seam Line (the pre-1967 ceasefire line). \"I think that at a time of heavy demand on the armed forces, we must not only talk but also do,\" he said. \"I feel that I am fit for reserve duty, and I can contribute.\"
Opposition member MK Michael Kleiner, who broke away from the National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu party earlier this year, says that he will initiate a vote among the opposition to replace left-wing Meretz leader Yossi Sarid as opposition head. The position is officially recognized in the Knesset, and its holder receives special privileges, including periodic briefings with the Prime Minister and addressing the Knesset on special occasions. The law states that the head of the largest non-government party is automatically the opposition head - unless most of the opposition wants someone else.
Kleiner said today, \"When I, as a member of the opposition, hear the Prime Minister [on special occasions] and then the opposition leader, I want to hear something other than what Sarid has to say… I personally would like to have someone like Rabbi Levy [of the NRP], Lieberman, or Ze\'evi, but I realize that they would not be agreeable to Tommy Lapid (Shinui) or (MK Roman) Bronfman. There is really only one person who could be agreeable to both: David Levy.\"
Kleiner may have a hard time, however. The opposition currently numbers as follows:
National Religious Party - 5
National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu - 7
Gesher - 3
Herut - 1
Shinui - 6
Meretz - 10
Arab parties - 10
Tomorrow - 2 (MKs Bronfman and Tzinker)
The first four parties can be counted on to oppose Sarid, but these total only 16 of the 44 opposition votes. Shinui is socially left-wing, politically right-leaning, and competes with Sarid\'s Meretz party for the anti-religious vote - and its six votes are therefore uncertain. The Arabs and Bronfman\'s party would probably support the Meretz candidate.
Mishani acknowledged that he has heard preliminary talk of forming a nationalist bloc, even possibly including Shas and headed by Binyamin Netanyahu, \"but it must be looked into, and it is not clear whether it is at all practical.\" When asked if such a bloc might compete with the Likud for right-wing votes and thus lead to a victory by the left-wing, Mishani said, \"Under the current circumstances, there is no chance that a left-wing party will win. Even Barak, who won by a large majority, did so only in the personal election for Prime Minister, but the right-wing parties had a majority in the Knesset.\"
Mishani, although he is twice-exempt from reserve duty because of his age and his status as a Member of Knesset, has volunteered for special duty along the Seam Line (the pre-1967 ceasefire line). \"I think that at a time of heavy demand on the armed forces, we must not only talk but also do,\" he said. \"I feel that I am fit for reserve duty, and I can contribute.\"
Opposition member MK Michael Kleiner, who broke away from the National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu party earlier this year, says that he will initiate a vote among the opposition to replace left-wing Meretz leader Yossi Sarid as opposition head. The position is officially recognized in the Knesset, and its holder receives special privileges, including periodic briefings with the Prime Minister and addressing the Knesset on special occasions. The law states that the head of the largest non-government party is automatically the opposition head - unless most of the opposition wants someone else.
Kleiner said today, \"When I, as a member of the opposition, hear the Prime Minister [on special occasions] and then the opposition leader, I want to hear something other than what Sarid has to say… I personally would like to have someone like Rabbi Levy [of the NRP], Lieberman, or Ze\'evi, but I realize that they would not be agreeable to Tommy Lapid (Shinui) or (MK Roman) Bronfman. There is really only one person who could be agreeable to both: David Levy.\"
Kleiner may have a hard time, however. The opposition currently numbers as follows:
National Religious Party - 5
National Union-Yisrael Beiteinu - 7
Gesher - 3
Herut - 1
Shinui - 6
Meretz - 10
Arab parties - 10
Tomorrow - 2 (MKs Bronfman and Tzinker)
The first four parties can be counted on to oppose Sarid, but these total only 16 of the 44 opposition votes. Shinui is socially left-wing, politically right-leaning, and competes with Sarid\'s Meretz party for the anti-religious vote - and its six votes are therefore uncertain. The Arabs and Bronfman\'s party would probably support the Meretz candidate.