Livni, Lapid Combine Blocs to Push Israel Back Into Peace Talks

25 MP Bloc Could Easily Topple Coalition

Israeli Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni have today announced their parties are going to combine lists into a common block, representing 25 members of parliament, in an attempt to push a resumption of peace talks.

Livni says the two parties will be working together against “Danny Danonism and extreme nationalism.” She added that Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s party would cooperate with them on religious issues, as secular members of the coalition.

With 25 members of a 68 MP coalition, the two parties could easily topple the coalition if they don’t get their way. They are lining themselves up in direct opposition to Naftali Bennett’s Jewish Home party, as well as the far-right wing of Likud (including recently fired Deputy DM Danny Danon).

The block underscores what is likely a march to an early election in Israel, with the collapse of peace talks giving the moderates like Livni less and less excuse for remaining in a coalition increasingly dominated by hawks.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.