Zionist Union chief Gabbay says ‘elections are between me and Netanyahu’

Avi Gabbay, the leader of the current largest opposition party Zionist Union, says the next Knesset elections are “between me and [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu,” despite all recent polls seeing it lose a significant portion of its current 24 seats in parliament.

“All the political players have announced they will sit in a government headed by Netanyahu, and therefore these elections are between me and Netanyahu,” Gabbay says in a statement.

Head of the Zionist Union party Avi Gabbay leads a faction meeting in the Knesset on November 19, 2018. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)

“I am aware of the weight of responsibility on the prime minister of Israel, and as prime minister I’ll lead the State of Israel to a better future. A future of change, unity and hope and belief that we can bring about change,” he adds.

“In April we will win,” he concludes. “In April we will bring change to Israel.”

Opposition leader Tzipi Livni, also of the Zionist Union, says that “Israel is preparing to bid farewell to Netanyahu. This is an opportunity for spring cleaning.”

Opposition leader Tzipi Livni addresses the Public Forum Conference on November 15, 2018. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)