The party said its new stance was "in the light of the extremism and escalation in the positions of Likud-Beytenu."
Labor Party chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich announced this morning that she will not join a government formed by Likud leader and incumbent prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who heads a joint list of candidates in the upcoming election with the Yisrael Beytenu party. A statement issued by Labor Party headquarters said, "In the light of the extremism of Likud-Beytenu, there are only two possible ways forward after the election: to form the next government under Shelly Yachimovich, and if the public decides otherwise, to lead the opposition."
Yachimovich is due to hold a press conference later this morning to make her own official announcement on the matter.
The Labor Party explained that "in the light of the extremism and the considerable escalation in the positions of Likud-Beytenu on every issue - economic and social policy, diplomatic and security policy, the rule of law and democracy the Labor Party is left as the only alternative for replacing the current government, and it will not sit with Netanyahu."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on January 3, 2013
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2013