Israeli democracy is in a state of emergency, and a government must be formed as soon as possible, President Reuven Rivlin said at the 22nd Knesset’s inaugural meeting on Thursday.
Rivlin and Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein addressed the long period of political uncertainty, which saw the 21st Knesset be inaugurated in April and dissolved less than two months later. They both said the solution is a unity government.
Rivlin and Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein addressed the long period of political uncertainty, which saw the 21st Knesset be inaugurated in April and dissolved less than two months later. They both said the solution is a unity government.
Rivlin said a broad governing coalition would allow Israelis “to put the disagreements between us to one side and work on finding areas of agreement... to give us all an opportunity to breathe a little, to heal.”
The president listed a number of “real life” areas that the government must address, from combating the Iranian threat to making day-care cheaper to tackling rising crime in Arab communities.
Rivlin also asked Israelis for forgiveness if he did anything that hurt them, as is customary before Yom Kippur, which begins Tuesday evening.
The president listed a number of “real life” areas that the government must address, from combating the Iranian threat to making day-care cheaper to tackling rising crime in Arab communities.
Rivlin also asked Israelis for forgiveness if he did anything that hurt them, as is customary before Yom Kippur, which begins Tuesday evening.
Edelstein was practical in his speech, addressing remarks to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue and White leader Benny Gantz: “My office is a few meters away. Sit. Talk. Turn over every stone until you find a formula. We can bridge the gaps. We can repair the tears. We certainly can reach unity.”
The Knesset speaker said Israelis will not forgive the MKs if a third election is held within a year.
“Let’s not fool ourselves that we can place blame on each other,” he warned. “We will all carry it.”
The Knesset speaker said Israelis will not forgive the MKs if a third election is held within a year.
“Let’s not fool ourselves that we can place blame on each other,” he warned. “We will all carry it.”
In a meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office earlier in the day, Netanyahu invited Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman to join the coalition he is trying to form.
Netanyahu told his former ally and current political nemesis that he should join as soon as possible, in order to contribute to the formation of a unity government.
Netanyahu told his former ally and current political nemesis that he should join as soon as possible, in order to contribute to the formation of a unity government.
However, Netanyahu’s spokesman said the meeting did not result in a breakthrough.
Liberman released a statement after the meeting saying that he urged Netanyahu to have Likud, Blue and White, and Yisrael Beytenu meet to decide the next government’s guidelines on policy, and only then deal with distributing portfolios as well as who should go first in a rotation in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Liberman released a statement after the meeting saying that he urged Netanyahu to have Likud, Blue and White, and Yisrael Beytenu meet to decide the next government’s guidelines on policy, and only then deal with distributing portfolios as well as who should go first in a rotation in the Prime Minister’s Office.
If no progress is made toward building a coalition in upcoming days, Netanyahu is expected to return his mandate to form a government to Rivlin.
No comments:
Post a Comment