Livni Using ‘Peace Talks’ to Get Rid of Bennett

Tzipi Livni, Israel's senior negotiator in talks with the Palestinian Authority and head of her own tiny six-Knesset Member “Tnuah” party, is sniping at the coalition partner Jewish Home party for being an obstacle to a peace agreement.

She told Israel Radio’s flagship Reshet Bet station Tuesday morning that the peace talks would have greater support if the Jewish Home, headed by Naftali Bennett, were to leave the government and make way for Labor, which is much closer to Livni’s position.

Shelly Yachimovich, head of Labor, has said several times she would join the coalition if Jewish Home were to drop out of the coalition to thwart an unwanted agreement. That would suit Livni just fine because polls show that if elections were to be held today, her party would win only three seats in the Knesset.

If she can take the credit for getting rid of Bennett, Livni, once upon a time a hawkish nationalist Likud MK and minister, would win more support from Labor voters or could team up with Yachimovich to stay alive politically.