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Israel’s largest opposition bloc splits ahead of elections

January 2, 2019 at 10:56 am

Leader of the Israeli Labor Party, Avi Gabbay [Facebook]

Leader of Israel’s Labor Party Avi Gabbay yesterday announced that the country’s largest opposition bloc has broken apart four months ahead of the country’s elections which are scheduled for April.

Gabbay said his party will run independently without the Hatnua movement led by former foreign minister Tzipi Livni.

The two parties formed the Zionist Union bloc which won 24 seats in the previous election, coming in second after the Likud party headed by current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“I hoped and believed this alliance would bring about our blossoming, a real connection and we would complement each other. But the public is smart, saw this is not the situation and distanced itself from us,” Gabbay said.

The Israeli Knesset voted on December 26 to dissolve the Knesset and hold early elections on 9 April.

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