Yacimovich calls Center-Left to unite to topple PM
Labor leader says public lost faith in politics, urges Center-Left bloc to focus on ousting Netanyahu instead of hurting each other.
By LAHAV HARKOVLabor leader Shelly Yacimovich 370(photo credit: Artiom Degel)
Recent changes in the political sphere, such as former Labor leader Amir Peretz moving to The Tzipi Livni Party, have led the public to lose faith in politics, Labor leader Shelly Yacimovich said Saturday.“As someone who believes in politics as a tool to realize ideology, I saw record low points, in which everyone goes party-shopping, selling their wares, and the connection between the political machine and ideology is forgotten,” Yacimovich said at a cultural event in Jerusalem. “I am convinced that we all want to forget these unpleasant events as soon as possible, and move to a deeper discussion.”Yacimovich called for Center- Left parties to forget the events of the last week and focus on toppling Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu instead of hurting each other.“I decided that I’m leaving the brawling behind,” she said. “I have no reason to harm other parties in my bloc. My only rival is Binyamin Netanyahu, as someone who presents an extreme capitalist agenda and is tearing apart Israeli society.”Whoever wants to take down Netanyahu, Yacimovich concluded, should vote for Labor.Peretz resigned from the Knesset on Thursday, after announcing his move to Livni’s party. Former Labor MK Yoram Marciano, who is a close ally of Peretz, is expected to take his place on Sunday.Click for full JPost coverageHowever, Marciano refused to discuss his impending swearing-in on Saturday night, saying, “We’ll see what happens by Sunday at noon.”As for Peretz’s departure from Labor, Marciano said, “I wish him Happy Hanukka and good luck,” and refused to comment further.
