Opposition prepares to fight nearly formed coalition

Labor chief says party will proudly lead opposition; Meretz leader Gal-On says settlers seized positions of power in new gov't.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Labor leader Shelly Yacimovich 370 (photo credit: Artiom Degel)
Labor leader Shelly Yacimovich 370
(photo credit: Artiom Degel)
Soon-to-be opposition leader Shelly Yacimovich (Labor) congratulated the expected new government on its formation, adding that she plans to lead a fighting opposition.
“Labor is going proudly to represent the people in the opposition. We kept our promise to our voters and refused to enter the government in exchange for portfolios that have nothing behind them but [Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s] right-wing economic policies,” Yacimovich wrote on her Facebook profile, in reference to invitations from Likud Beytenu for her party to join the coalition and receive the Finance Ministry.
She added that she is committed to lead an opposition that is concerned with all Israelis, regardless of religion, race, gender or economic status, and promised to put social, economic, diplomatic and civil needs ahead of politics.
In addition, Yacimovich said she will expose the “hidden processes” and relations between the government and the wealthy.
Meretz leader Zehava Gal- On said settlers had taken over the government, including points of economic power.
“Giving the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry, the Housing and Construction Ministry and the Knesset Finance Committee to Bayit Yehudi ensures that the whole market will be enslaved to continued exaggerated benefits that settlers enjoy, while the rest of Israeli society suffers,” she stated.
Meretz MK Nitzan Horowitz added, “The money and resources [Yesh Atid leader Yair] Lapid fought to take from yeshivot will be invested in building settlements, with a high social and diplomatic price.”
According to Horowitz, Yesh Atid voters will continue asking “Where is the money?,” one of the party’s campaign slogans.