MK (The Movement) Tzipi Livni on Shabbos spoke out against the agreement reached by which Bayit HaYehudi and Yesh Atid will enter or remain outside of the coalition together. Speaking with Channel 2’s, Meet the Press she stated “I hope that Yesh Atid’s decision to team up with Bennett will not sabotage the diplomatic process”.

Livni used the media to turn to Labor Party leader Shelly Yacimovich to follow her lead and join the coalition headed by Binyamin Netanyahu.

She explained that with Labor on board, it would result in a government with a unified vision regarding economic and diplomatic matters, permitting to advance these agendas. She rejected the criticism being leveled against her for joining the coalition, explaining “I promised to advance the diplomatic process [with the PA] during the election and that is what I am going to do. I remain loyal to my beliefs.”

At present, with The Movement on board, Likud/Beitenu has a total of 37 seats, a far cry from the 61-seat majority needed to present a coalition. The chareidi parties, Shas and Yahadut Hatorah have indicated they cannot accept the Kandel draft plan for chareidim, and at present, they do not see how they can come on board. If Labor agrees to enter the coalition, Netanyahu will have 53 seats, still short of the simple majority so he will have to work to win over at least one of the chareidi parties.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)