Livni calls on Labor to join government

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni called on the Labor Party to join the government for the sake of further reinforcing peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

“Saying that ‘if there is an agreement we will come and support it’ is not enough,” Livni told Army Radio on Thursday. “To come at the end, after we have reached an agreement and after a public referendum, is important, but it is even more important to do it at a time when it is need — right now.”

Last week Labor Party leader Shelly Yachimovich told visiting United Nations General-Secretary Ban Ki-moon that, as Knesset opposition leader, she would provide the prime minister with support as long as peace talks progress and bear fruit.

“Though the opposition’s function is to offer alternatives and to lodge criticism, at a time like this we have a leadership role to inspire hope and to back efforts to reach an agreement,” she said.

The Labor Party, which won 15 Knesset seats in the January 2013 general elections, chose to be in the opposition rather than join the coalition.

Livni, who heads the Hatnua Party, declined to comment on developments in the latest round of talks held clandestinely on Tuesday this week. The justice minister, who was appointed to lead Israel’s negotiation team, said that in order to build trust, both sides had agreed to not discuss progress after each meeting.