Yachimovich: New centrist parties designed to help PM

Labor chief says election will be determined by half a million undecided women and that there’s still hope to topple Netanyahu

Labor party chief Shelly Yachimovich makes a campaign stop at Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market on Wednesday (photo credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Labor party chief Shelly Yachimovich makes a campaign stop at Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market on Wednesday (photo credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Labor party leader Shelly Yachimovich said Saturday that the formation of new centrist parties by Tzipi Livni and Yair Lapid were designed to strengthen Benjamin Netanyahu, but that there was still a chance to defeat the prime minister in the upcoming Knesset elections, now three days away.

Speaking at a cultural event in the central Israeli city of Rehovot, Yachimovich urged Israelis not to give up the fight to topple the prime minister’s right-wing coalition, which according to the latest polls is poised for a narrow victory on Tuesday.

“The chance to beat Netanyahu is not great, but the possibility certainly exists and you can’t give up the struggle,” she said.

The Labor chief, whose party is expected to be the second-largest faction in the 19th Knesset with some 17 seats, according to the latest polls, blamed fellow centrist party leaders Livni and Lapid for helping Netanyahu, reported Walla News.

“It’s sad that the establishment of Livni and Lapid’s new parties was intended to actually strengthen Bibi [Netanyahu],” she was quoted as saying.

Yachimovich also said the results of the election would be decided by half a million undecided female voters. About 15 percent of Israeli voters are still undecided, Channel 2, Yedioth Ahronoth and Haaretz reported on Friday.

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