Bibi: It's time for general elections

Opposition leader and Likud chairman: "Anyone who fears the people's decision is not worthy to lead."

By SHELLY PAZ, JPOST.COM STAFF
Netanyahu pouts like a chimp 248.88 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Netanyahu pouts like a chimp 248.88
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Likud leader MK Binyamin Netanyahu has called on Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, the Kadima Party's new leader, to set a date for general elections. "This is the most decent and democratic thing to do. We need to go to the people of Israel and let them choose," Netanyahu told Livni by phone Thursday. At a press conference Thursday afternoon at the Likud's Metzudat Ze'ev headquarters in Tel Aviv, he said he planned to also ask Defense Minister and Labor Party Chairan Ehud Barak and other party leaders to work toward setting a date for general elections. "We need to let the people of Israel decide who should be the country's prime minister and not to leave this decision exclusively to the members of Kadima," Netanyahu said. "He who fears the people's choice, should not lead," he added. Other MKs expressed their support for general elections after Livni won the Kadima party primary by a negligible 431 votes, or 1.1% of the vote. "I estimate we are on our way to general elections and I believe the next government will be right-wing; I just hope it happens fast," National Union-NRP MK Uri Ariel said. The fact that Livni, who is leading Israel's talks with the Palestinians, was elected might even help the Right force Kadima from power, he added. "The public needs to understand that this government mainly gives up Israel's territory. We need a responsible leadership," he said. MK Reuven Rivlin (Likud) concurred, saying, "We have reached the point of no return and we have no choice but to go to general elections. Any artificial attempt to create a coalition that is not based on mutual guidelines and one policy is doomed, and Israel cannot afford failures at the moment. "We must go for general elections so we can formulate a capable leadership," he said. Labor, Trade and Industry Minister and Shas chairman Eli Yishai met with Livni on Thursday evening. Yishai said the meeting was was "good and friendly" and told reporters that while different possible ways to form a coalition were discussed, the details of a future agreement between Kadima and Shas were not addressed. He said that although it was numerically possible, there would not be a government without Shas because "a coalition of 60 MKs would not hold water."