Economy minister laments lack of unity government

Economy Minister Aryeh Deri says he made a “terrible mistake” when he failed to demand that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu form a national unity government during the summer’s coalition talks.

Netanyahu wanted to establish a unity government following the March elections, the Shas leader tells Israel Radio in a Thursday interview, but opposition leader Isaac Herzog, head of the Zionist Union list, did not agree to the move.

Deri also speaks to the near-zero growth in GDP in the second quarter of 2015, saying it was caused by a decline in exports. The cabinet will meet after the High Holidays to decide on concrete steps to encourage growth, he promises.