Meretz chief says Lapid, Gantz can work better with Hadash-Ta’al following Balad exit

Meretz chief Zehava Galon says she believes Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Defense Minister Benny Gantz could work with the remaining parties in the Joint List following their split from Balad.

“I think what happened now is an opportunity for Lapid, because Hadash and Ta’al [the two factions left in the Joint List] are certainly parties that can be under consideration” in a future coalition, unlike the more extreme Balad, Galon tells Army Radio.

“If Lapid wants to be prime minister together with Gantz and the so-called change bloc, he needs Arab representatives, Ra’am, Hadash and Ta’al on his side,” Galon adds, noting that Meretz can play a “critical role in mediating, serving as a bridge between the Arab parties and Lapid and Gantz, because of our close ties.”