(Haaretz).Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu intends to meet by Tuesday with all Labor MKs who object to joining a national unity government.
Netanyahu is getting involved in Labor affairs because he fears Barak will fail to pass his proposal to join the government at his party convention on Tuesday, Likud sources said.
Barak has met with the reticent MKs, as well as with central activists and MKs who support the move.
Histadrut secretary-general Ofer Eini has been telling people, "It would be suicide not to enter the government. We're in an economic crisis, and in a few months there will be hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers."
Yachimovich said Barak was killing their party's chances of being a true alternative for Israel's electorate by considering Likud's coalition offer.
Barak responded to his critics Thursday, saying, "What is wrong with talking to Netanyahu? I have spoken with senior PLO terrorists. Is Netanyahu the worst of our nation's enemies?"
Barak added that leaving the country's problems in the hands of a narrow right-wing government would be irresponsible. "The public's true dream government is a Likud-Kadima-Labor government. Both Tzipi Livni and Netanyahu said before the elections that they would work to forge a unity government."
