Labor MK Shelly Yachimovich accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of calling early elections because ''he knew that police were going to indict him.''"Netanyahu's crime - bribery - is one of the worst,'' Yachimovich said at an event Saturday. "Netanyahu is a strong politician, but nobody in Israel wants to see a prime minister lead the country from the defendant's bench. The minimum party leaders should do is declare they will not join a government whose leader is being indicted."Yachimovich also addressed last week's public split between Labor and Tzipi Livni's Hatenua party, ending the partnership of the Zionist Union.
"I remember harsher times for the Labor party, and we managed to stand on our feet," Yachimovich said. "I believe we have a base of support that believes in the values we represent: Social-Democracy, Zionism, striving for peace, equality, and national security.""I would like to see a collaboration with Gantz's party, eventually," Yachimovich said, referring to former IDF chief of staff and Hosen L’Israel (Israel Resilience) Party leader Benny Gantz. "The current situation of multiple parties creates fragmentation, and the danger is that we might lack a vote or two to create an alternative to Netayahu's government." "The Labor party has a chairman, Avi Gabbay, and I call on to all the other parties to stand behind him," Yachimovich added.Yachimovich: Nobody wants to see a PM leading from defendant's bench
"I remember harsher times for the Labor party, and we managed to stand on our feet."
