Prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu met Histadrut (General Federation of Labor in Israel) chairman Ofer Eini today. The meeting, which took place at Netanyahu's request, was to discuss the consequences of the economic crisis and to send a message of cooperation between the Netanyahu government and the workers and employers' organizations in the face of the wave of layoffs in the Israeli economy. Among other things, Netanyahu and Eini discussed the problem of unemployment I outlying areas. The two agreed to cooperate when the new government is formed, together with other players in the economy.
We had an important, in-depth discussion in an attempt to understand the depth of the crisis that threatens the jobs of tens of thousands of people, " Netanyahu said after the meeting. "I fund in the chairman of the Histadrut willingness to find ways of cooperating, and we are continuing with the dialogue so that we will be able to form a government and act quickly," Netanyahu added. "We will work together for the benefit of the workers, the economy, and the country."
Eini also said that the meeting had been a good one and that he hoped that cooperation between the sides would propel the economy forwards. "We tried to think of ideas for a solution, and I congratulate Netanyahu on his wish to work in cooperation. We can see that the crisis is the most severe in Israel's history , and we agreed that we would act in true cooperation. We will try to solve the crisis together, particularly the layoffs of workers in outlying areas," Eini said.
Political sources believe that Netanyahu initiated the meeting also in order to ask Eini to act behind the scenes to bring the Labor Party into the coalition he will head. Eini has very good connections with Labor chairman Ehud Barak and with other senior figures in the party. In recent days reports have spread that, despite Barak's declarations that his party was headed for opposition, he has begun talking with senior people in the party to find out whether they would be prepared to join a Netanyahu government with Avigdor Lieberman's Israel Beiteinu.
If Eini manages to pave the way for such a move within the Labor Party, Netanyahu's dream will come true: a Likud-Labor government without Kadima. Netanyahu has never concealed his wish to see Barak hold the defense portfolio. Eini's involvement in such a move would ensure him support from Netanyahu for measure the Histadrut would like to see instituted, while for his part Netanyahu would ensure himself industrial peace on the part of the Histadrut.
Netanyahu hinted as much when he said at the end of the meeting with Eini, "I expect the same kind of cooperation from political leaders too. The order of the day is unity. We do not have unlimited time. Israel's economy won't wait we must form a broad government quickly, as broad as possible."
