Opposition leader Yitzhak Herzog is looking to supplant Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, calling Monday for repeat general elections.
Speaking at his party’s faction meeting in the afternoon, the Zionist Union chairman announced the party was “in the midst of a significant political and public campaign.”
“For two months, Netanyahu has been unable to form a government and bring it before the Knesset for approval,” Herzog asserted. “This is a rare moment, very rare, for a big, strong political camp to prevent the establishment of a terrible government for Israel.”
“The struggle and the choice is between two different world views and different camps,” Herzog explained. “And therefore when I say, as I have said for a while, that we need to look into the feasibility of an alternative government; let no one be confused.”
“I am talking about a government under my leadership because only I am capable of running this Knesset and this political system,” he stressed.
Turning to the members of the emerging 61-MK coalition, Herzog urged them to abandon Netanyahu.
“I appeal to your sense of national responsibility. You cannot lead the country in support of Netanyahu’s way. We will not let you lead; you will not be able to function,” he threatened.
Noting the high cost of holding repeat elections, Herzog argued that the new coalition’s current undertakings were wasting billions of shekels, which would be better spent on new elections to serve the public.
“A choice between Netanyahu and me,” he stressed. “Netanyahu is trying to establish a 61-MK government. I’m not going to help him, rather replace him. If not inside this Knesset, then in repeat elections.”