Livni said repeatedly on Tuesday that she intends to try to build a political block of parties ahead of the election.
By GIL HOFFMANOpposition leader Tzipi Livni (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Hatenua head Tzipi Livni could end up not making it in to the next Knesset in the April 9 election, following the breakup of the Zionist Union partnership on Tuesday.Livni said repeatedly on Tuesday that she intends to try to build a political block of parties ahead of the election and her associates said it would be easier now that she lost the burden of her partnership with the Labor Party and its chairman, Avi Gabbay."Tonight there is more of a chance to achieve an upheaval," said Livni's political ally, MK Yoel Hasson. "Anyone who wants to replace Netanyahu can be a possible partner."But sources close to former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz have said that they were not interested in partnering up with either Livni or Gabbay, because both of them have a reputation of being too left wing.If Livni does not end up joining Gantz's new Hosen L'Israel (Israel Resilience) party or Yesh Atid, she will have to run on her own as head of Hatenua, which won six seats in the 2013 election."As long as the public wants me, I am ready to run again," Livni told Channel 10 on Tuesday night.If Livni runs with a new party, it would be her fifth party in 10 years.Gabbay also intends to seek a partnership with Gantz and Kan news reported that Gabbay had sent messages to Gantz on Tuesday and would meet with him soon.Former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon intends to register his new party and reveal its name on Wednesday.It will be the fourth major new party formed since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his intention to disperse the Knesset on December 24.
