Kadima MKs expressed disappointment about the national unity government on
Tuesday, saying they are skeptical that party leader Shaul Mofaz and Prime
Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will reach the goals they set in the coalition
agreement.
Former Kadima leader Tzipi Livni slammed the deal in a terse
message on her Facebook page. She said “there is such a thing as a different
kind of politics, and it will win.”
Kadima faction chairwoman Dalia
Itzik, who pushed for a unity deal in the past, expressed skepticism about the
agreement moments before signing it. She revealed that her children had urged
her not to authorize it.
“I don’t intend to apologize for signing the
deal, but I am aware of the voices advising against it,” she said. “I know there
are those who say we did it because of the state Kadima is in. We will have to
constantly rethink and reevaluate whether our demands are being met. If not,
joining the coalition will be a waste of time.”
MK Meir Sheetrit called
the last-minute signing of a coalition agreement “a circus,” as the Knesset was
on the brink of dissolution, and expressed doubts that the Kadima-Likud
partnership would reach the goals it set for itself.
MK Shlomo Molla
echoed Itzik and Sheetrit’s statements, saying that the coalition agreement must
be “checked with a magnifying glass everyday.”
“All those who support
Tzipi Livni’s opinions must fight so the government takes care of civil issues,”
Molla stated. “If not, we will go to the opposition.”
He noted that there
are clear points in 2012 when the coalition agreement will be tested: The end of
July, when an alternative to the “Tal Law” guaranteeing nationwide military
service will be passed, and December 31, the deadline in the agreement for
changing the system of government.
“If these things are not done, I will
not feel committed [to the coalition],” he said.
Molla saved his harshest
words for Netanyahu, saying he is pessimistic about the chances of the coalition
agreement’s terms being upheld.
“Netanyahu is a known verbal acrobat,”
Molla asserted. “I do not believe him. He does not have a lot of credibility
when it comes to agreements.”
“I hope I will be proven wrong, but I doubt
it,” he added.
MK Otniel Schneller, who has been a strong proponent of
joining the government, called the deal “very important, brave and essential for
the country.” He said Israel could not deal properly with the Iranian issue,
equalizing civil burdens and changing the electoral system without being united
in a wide government.
“These issues are a matter of our survival and they
require a large majority,” he said.
Kadima MKs privately expressed relief
that they would not have to compete immediately over the 10-12 seats polls are
forecasting for the party. One MK said that when Mofaz revealed the news that
the election was delayed to the faction at a hastily called 2 a.m. meeting
Monday night, the MKs broke out in smiles.