MK Horowitz blasts ‘mother of all dirty deals,’ Labor says unity government an ‘alliance of cowards’

Opposition parties slammed Tuesday’s unity agreement between Likud and Kadima, characterizing it as a “dirty deal” that will gravely undermine the public’s trust in Israel’s political system.

“This is an alliance of cowards and the most ridiculous zigzag in Israel’s political history,” Labor Party Chairwoman Shelly Yachimovich said, referring to Kadima leader Shaul Mofaz’s recent attacks on Netanyahu. Two months ago, Mofaz vowed not to enter the Likud-led government, and in recent days accused Labor of planning to join the coalition.

“Nobody will be forgetting this shady deal, and regrettably it will gravely harm the public’s trust in politics,” the Labor leader said.

Fellow Labor party Knesset Member Isaac Herzog also slammed the unity deal, vowing to lead the opposition in “toppling the alliance of cowards leading the State of Israel.”

“We’ll show the public that a political and ideological alternative exists,” he said. The Likud-Kadima unity deal is “the mother of all dirty deals,” said Meretz Knesset Member Nitzan Horowitz, who also blasted the agreement.

“Netanyahu formulated a mega-dirty deal; perhaps among the dirtiest in the State of Israel’s history,” he said. “The price is a terrible blow to the public’s trust in the nation’s leadership.”

Meanwhile, some criticism of the deal was also voiced within Likud, with Knesset Member Danny Danon expressing his displeasure with the agreement.

“The move will perpetuate Barak as defense minister for another year and a half while bringing a leftist party called Kadima into the government,” he said. “This will constitute a blow to the settlement enterprise, a blow to Likud’s values, and a blow to the Israeli public, which elected Likud to lead the State of Israel.”

However, most Likud and coalition members endorsed the unity deal, including key government parties Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu. Likud Ministers Gideon Sa’ar and Yuval Steinitz also lauded the move, and particularly the agreement on what they characterized as a “responsible state budget.” (Copyright 2012 © Yedioth Internet 05/08/12)