As newly elected Kadima head Tzipi Livni prepares to form a new government such that she would become Israel’s new Prime Minister, the heads of the Labor and Likud parties gathered to discuss forming an “emergency coalition” to replace the ailing Kadima party.
Ehud Barak, Defense Minister and head of the Labor Party, met with Likud chair Binyamin “Bibi” Netanyahu Saturday night in the first of what is expected to be an ongoing series of meetings between the two former Prime Ministers of Israel. Barak spoke about his discussions with Netanyahu at the next day’s Labor faction meeting.
"In light of the political, security and economic challenges, the correct move for the people of Israel is [the formation of] a very broad national emergency government. What interests me is what is good for Israel," said Barak.
While Barak repeated statements he had made earlier in the week in support of a new coalition, Netanyahu reminded the Defense Minister of the failure of the current Kadima government, which Netanyahu believes has plunged the country into political crisis.
Netanyahu reportedly used Saturday night’s hour-long meeting to encourage Barak to move his Labor party out of the Kadima-led coalition and to thereby force a new general election under a unified Labor-Likud ticket.
Barak is scheduled to speak with Livni on Sunday, after which he plans to meet with Trade Minister Eli Yishai, head of the Shas party, who has repeatedly threatened to leave the Kadima government.