In the statement, Levy-Abecassis did not announce, however, that she would remain in Labor-Gesher-Meretz. Blue and White MK Meirav Cohen also turned down a Likud offer.
By GIL HOFFMANOrly Levy-Abecassis(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to form a government suffered a blow on Wednesday afternoon when his top target, MK Orly Levy-Abecassis, criticized efforts to woo her.Levy-Abecassis, whose Gesher party ran in Labor-Gesher-Meretz, was Likud's top choice to defect, because as the leader of an individual party, she could join the government without facing sanctions. She is also the daughter of former Likud minister David Levy."There are not and have not been any contacts with political officials," Levy-Abecassis said. "All that has been published so far has been trial balloons and political spin."Levy-Abecassis said she especially was offended by a report that as part of the deal, the coalition would vote for her father to become president in the June 2021 Knesset vote."This is delusional and can only rise in the minds of those who think that anything can be obtained with the right bribe," she said. "This is shameful for whoever thought it."In the statement, Levy-Abecassis did not announce, however, that she would remain in Labor-Gesher-Meretz.Blue and White MK Meirav Cohen announced on Wednesday that she had received an overture from Likud, and that she turned it down."Don't waste your time on me," Cohen said in a video she posted on Twitter.
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