Yesh Atid shuns WZO coalition deal

Yesh Atid will be the only party not taking part in a massive deal to decide who runs the World Zionist Organization, the party said over the weekend.The various Israeli political parties and religious streams around the world that make up the WZO are expected to complete a coalition agreement ahead of key votes on Tuesday at the World Zionist Congress in Jerusalem.The agreement divides up the posts in the WZO, Keren Kayemet (Jewish National Fund), Keren Hayesod (United Israel Appeal), and other Zionist bodies and departments.“What is happening behind the scenes of the Zionist organizations is the worst culture of political deals and corruption that we see among political parties in Israel,” Yesh Atid said in a statement.“Yesh Atid promised to represent the public and not narrow political interests, and we will keep that promise.”The centrist party has reached an agreement on a joint faction with MERCAZ Olami, the Zionist branch of the Conservative Movement.Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid will leave Monday night for London in an effort to boost Israel’s public diplomacy. He plans to meet there with British foreign secretary Philip Hammond and be interviewed by British media.