Herzog: New Netanyahu coalition is prone to extortion, bound to fail

Zionist Union co-leader Tzipi Livni says new government "is not good for Israel"; indicates that it will soon be replaced be better alternative.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
herzog (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
herzog
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Zionist Union chief Isaac Herzog took to Twitter late Wednesday to pan the new, narrow right-wing coalition that is set to take power in Jerusalem.
Herzog's remarks came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday night that he had succeeded in forming a government less than two hour before the midnight deadline to form a coalition.
“This government is devoid of responsibility, stability, and an ability to govern,” tweeted Herzog, who has been conspicuously silent in recent weeks, fueling speculation that he had not ruled out joining Netanyahu in a unity government.
“This government is one of national failure,” Herzog tweeted. “A government that is susceptible to extortion is a narrow, weak government that won’t advance a thing and will be quickly replaced by an alternative that represents hope and responsibility.”
The coalition was formed as a result of Netanyahu's Likud party reaching a last-minute agreement with Naftali Bennett's Bayit Yehudi, entrusting the faction with the Education, Justice, Diaspora Affairs and Agriculture portfolios.
The new government was slated to be sworn in on Monday. The prime minister reiterated his desire to expand the coalition beyond its current 61 MKs.
Herzog's faction co-leader MK Tzipi Livni also struck out against the newly-announced government, asserting that it "is not good for Israel."
"When it's said that a government of 61 [seats] is not good, they are wrong. What isn't good is the government itself," Livni wrote on Facebook Wednesday night, adding that "the government announced tonight is not good for Israel in its manner, worldview, values, objectives."
Livni, who previously served as justice minister, continued to say that the 61-seat coalition was in fact good for the state as its slim majority would lead to its replacement by "a government that will lead Israel on its way."
Gil Hoffman contributed to this report.


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