Bruised Herzog vows not to relaunch coalition talks

With his reputation tarnished and leadership challenged, Labor leader Isaac Herzog on Monday morning stressed that joining the Likud-led coalition was out of the question.

Herzog took to Facebook to dispel the notion that Labor could restart negotiations aimed at joining the coalition just days after such talks collapsed and directed his comments at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "I want to make myself clear, just like I said so in person -- the door has been shut, and it's over," Herzog wrote. "You are beholden to the most extremist elements, and we will fight you and them."

A day earlier, when Labor convened for its weekly faction meeting, tempers flared, with Herzog bearing the brunt of the criticism for his botched coalition talks with Netanyahu. During the meeting, Herzog briefed party members on the talks he held and dismissed the criticism outright. He insisted that he kept Labor MK Eitan Cabel informed all through the talks. At the meeting, Labor MK Amir Peretz said that the rancor would soon give way to harmony, hinting that this would happen when Herzog is replaced: "The internal crisis will end soon, the sound of infighting will fade off; when [as newly elected Labor leader in 1992] Yitzhak Rabin said Labor's days of intraparty division were over, this was the beginning of the end of the Likud's 15-year rule. This will happen again soon."

The meeting was the first faction meeting since Herzog's talks with Netanyahu unraveled, which led to renewed calls for Herzog's replacement in a primary vote. Five MKs boycotted the meeting, including former Labor leader Shelly Yachimovich. "I planned to arrive at the faction meeting, but I realized that rather than taking responsibility and calming things down, Herzog has continued to lash out at his own party members in a divisive and inciting manner, and with the same rhetoric used by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. I have no plans in taking part in such conduct," Yachimovich said on Sunday. "We will focus on restoring dignity and parliamentary values to the opposition, which has taken a beating; we will focus on tackling the severe crisis of faith the public has had, justifiably, when it comes to Israeli politics."

Yachimovich's comments were made shortly after she tweeted that "when I am under pressure, I stay awake and energized," which was an apparent swipe at Herzog for his conduct during the negotiations with Netanyahu.

Labor MKs Stav Shaffir, Yossi Yonah, Mickey Rosenthal and Erel Margalit also boycotted the meeting. "After what unfolded last week, I expect our faction to hold a debate on ideology and values regarding the way forward," Shaffir said. "Unfortunately, we were invited to a closed-door meeting -- the exact opposite of what we were supposed to do.

Rosenthal, who has already called for Herzog to resign, said that "you cannot build leadership by whining." Rosenthal said Herzog was "blaming everyone for this failed maneuver, even though the shame and disgrace is squarely on him, and he will have to carry this baggage. It is not that Netanyahu conned Herzog; it is Herzog who conned himself -- Netanyahu never planned on giving him the concessions Herzog touted as having received."

During the meeting on Sunday, even Hatnuah leader Tzipi Livni, a member of the Zionist Union joint ticket consisting of Labor and Hatnuah, attacked Herzog. "I have a lot of criticism over the way you conducted the talks. In light of the partnership between Labor and Hatnuah, things should have been done differently," she said.

Labor MK Itzik Shmuli told Herzog that he felt "betrayed, and everyone feels betrayed; take this into account." MK Ksenia Svetlova, also from Labor, lashed out at Herzog, saying, "You made us look like fools -- when someone walks like a dog and sounds like a dog."

Labor said in a press release that members discussed "the possibility of creating a large parliamentary bloc to generate hope as an alternative to the radical right-wing government and the assault on democratic values."

Labor faction leader MK Merav Michaeli sounded a conciliatory note. "We had a crisis over the past week, in part because of how the party runs its internal affairs," she said. "Every family has its own disagreements, which have to be aired, and this is what we did today in a constructive and effective way. It is rather unfortunate that some chose not to attend and refused to seize this opportunity and would instead like to continue tearing apart this party and engage in sabotage. The faction is mustering all its strength to prepare for the Knesset's summer session, and it will continue to lead the opposition to the radical and bad right-wing government."

Following the meeting, Labor MK Eitan Broshi said that "in order to prepare for Monday's summer session and in order to emerge from the current situation, the party must first find its identity." Broshi also attacked Herzog's detractors, saying, "Criticism is legitimate in a democratic party, but it must be voiced properly; we need moderation and restraint and above all, the nation's interest must trump personal interests."

Later on Sunday, Shaffir and Margalit led a rally in south Tel Aviv to protest the expected appointment of Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Lieberman as defense minister. Among the 650 participants were Maj. Gen. (res.) Amiram Levin and Brig. Gen. (res.) Giora Inbar.

"Today we say no to the rule of thugs; no to the extreme right-wing policies; no to racism, no to the venom of lunatics who have infiltrated this government; no to a government run by hilltop youth and weddings of hate and the burning of families [referring to groups and incidents associated with Jewish terrorism]; no to a defense minister who wakes up one morning and decides to bomb the Aswan Dam in Egypt," Margalit said at the rally.

Margalit hinted that Labor must also change its conduct if it wants to return to power. "The opposition is virtually gone -- that is why today we are establishing an opposition," he declared, before promising, "We will retake control of this country; it will happen faster than you think. The public has had enough of Netanyahu and his radical and delusional cronies, and it is sick and tired of everything they represent."

טעינו? נתקן! אם מצאתם טעות בכתבה, נשמח שתשתפו אותנו