Leaders of Shas and Labour forge an alliance to topple Netanyahu's government

Israel’s Labour and Shas parties have agreed to work together in the Knesset to help topple Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, according to Israeli newspaper Maariv. The new alliance was reached during a meeting between Shas Party chairman Aryeh Deri and the Labour Party’s new head Isaac Herzog.

“The two have agreed to increase cooperation and work together from within the opposition to topple the government,” Deri’s office stated.

The Shas party statement further noted that Deri has a better rapport with Herzog than with previous Labour leader Shelly Yachimovich. Deri and Herzog are both members of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee in the Knesset.

Herzog’s press secretary also explained that Labour’s head has spoken several times about his intention to form a large opposition bloc that would be able to topple the ruling coalition.

“The rule of the right wing is bad, and does not address citizens’ needs,” he said.

This step has come after Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni invited Herzog to join the ruling coalition in order to counter the HaBayit HaYehudi and Yisrael Beiteinu blocs, which would enable Netanyahu to move forward and reach a breakthrough in the stalled negotiations with the Palestinians. Livni also hoped that a new alliance with Labour would secure the position of Netanyahu’s government in the Knesset, especially if HaBayit HaYehudi seeks to withdraw from the government or topple it against the backdrop of the negotiations with the Israelis.