The road towards the creation of a parliamentarian bloc of non-Labor parties was cleared of another obstacle when Herut last night approved the proposed formation of the non-Labor alignment. The decision was adopted by a vote of 119-18 and 8 abstentions.
It was a stormy session which lasted five hours but it had its great moments as well when Menachem Beigin and Ezer Weizman entered together in the hall and when Weizman took his seat next to Beigin–as if nothing had happened between them. Beigin and Weizman said they favored the proposed alignment. Weizman’s return to activity was welcomed by many Herut members and he was warmly applauded.
Two years ago Weizman proposed a broad anti-Labor front, but at that time it was in terms of unifying all the non-Labor parties. The current counter-alignment to the Labor Alignment proposed by Arye Sharon calls for an active political front in the Knesset and apparently in local councils while each party would preserve its unique ideology and framework.
The Liberal Party also had a session yesterday coupled with the official ceremony to welcome Sharon joining the party. He was welcomed by the chairman of the party executive, Simcha Ehrlich.
Sharon said there are two things that can change the image of the State: the establishment of the broad bloc, and electoral reform and the democratization of political life. The Liberals then started debate on the proposed alignment and unanimously approved the proposed plan for the formation of the non-Labor alignment.
Gahal will soon appoint a committee to start negotiations concerning the actualization of the proposed bloc.
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