Meretz Official Calls for Swift Government Formation, Sparks Right-Wing Outrage
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
Uri Zaki, chairman of the Meretz Directorate, urged the rapid formation of a government in any configuration, stating the election was solely about preventing Benjamin Netanyahu's rule. Journalist Yehuda Schlesinger strongly disagreed, arguing the election focused on the draft law for Haredim and Arab party partnerships. Schlesinger accused Zaki of making a false claim and highlighted the draft law's importance to right-wing and religious voters who supported the "alliance of servants."
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Uri Zaki called for a swift government formation, stating the election was only about stopping Netanyahu.
- Journalist Yehuda Schlesinger countered that the election focused on the Haredi draft law and Arab parties.
- Schlesinger accused Zaki of making a blatant falsehood regarding the election's central issues.
- The draft law for Haredi conscription was a key issue for right-wing and religious voters, Schlesinger argued.
- Zaki warned that obstructing the people's will regarding Netanyahu would lead to political erasure.
Uri Zaki, chairman of the Meretz Directorate and the Herzl Center, has called for the swift formation of a government "quickly and in any composition," a statement that drew a sharp response from journalist Yehuda Schlesinger. In a Twitter exchange, Zaki argued that the recent elections were solely about preventing Benjamin Netanyahu's continued rule. Schlesinger countered that the draft law for ultra-Orthodox conscription and partnerships with Arab parties were the central issues of the election campaign.
Zaki asserted that the public had decisively voted against Netanyahu's continued leadership, warning that anyone who obstructs the "will of the people" and allows Netanyahu to remain in power would be politically erased. He emphasized the urgent need to form a government, regardless of its makeup.
Schlesinger rejected Zaki's claims, directly questioning how an "honest and decent person" like Zaki could make such a "blatant falsehood." He referenced arguments from opponents of the judicial reform, who claimed the issue was not presented to the public in the previous election campaign, noting that Ohana, Levin, and Bardugo had extensively discussed it.
Regarding the current election cycle, Schlesinger stated that the campaign "was only about these two things: Arabs, the Likud campaign was only about this. Haredim, the campaign of all the bloc parties was only about this." He criticized campaigns that focused on the ultra-Orthodox public and the draft law issue, questioning how Zaki could deny the draft law's significance. Schlesinger pointed out that "right-wingers and especially religious people swallowed the best of Golan and Eizenkot's efforts solely for the 'alliance of servants,'" implying that the draft law was a key motivator for voters.
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