Israel's Likud approves Yisrael Beitenu merger

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• published: 30 Oct 2012
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Israel's Likud approves Yisrael Beitenu merger: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ruling Likud conservative party has approved by a large majority plans to join forces with a right-wing party, Yisrael Beitenu, which is headed by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, ahead of next January's parliamentary election. Despite some criticism of the move within the Likud ranks, with some calling for a secret ballot, the alliance won after Netanyahu pledged that the union would not change his party's policies or direction. Opinion polls have predicted an easy win for the Netanyahu-Lieberman bloc, with surveys showing 35-43 parliamentary seats for the new coalition in the 120-member assembly. Israeli IBA political correspondent, Ayala Hason: "Formally tonight what we have seen here, that Netanyahu established the right wing block, which he is leading of course, the Likud party, or as we call it from today 'HaLikud Beitenu' party, which is a combination of Netanyahu's (and) Lieberman's parties. Nobody is going to inherit me, he said here very clearly and loudly, but now if there is no answer at the center-left (side of the Israeli political map) probably we have seen the result of those elections. If there is an answer of unifying between few parties from the center-left, then its an open game." Israeli political analysts are speculating that centrist and leftist parties may be planning to band together in a bid to contest the right-wing coalition, with some suggesting a former leader of the centrist Kadima party, Ehud Olmert, could emerge as a candidate if he opts to run in the election.