Sources in the Likud party expressed concern over the
involvement of President Shimon Peres, after he recently met separately with
Lapid, Livni and Yechimovich. The Likud sources suggested that Peres may have
pushed the three center-left parties to unite in an attempt to reduce
Netanyahu's chances of heading the next government. “Peres will do anything to
turn the government train to the left,” a Likud member said according to the
Israel Hayom Sunday.
The president’s office issued a statement Sunday denying
that Peres “interfered in elections matters.”
"The president is not involved in any kind of political
maneuvers. This would be opposed to the nature of his job and his worldview.
The president has held meetings over the past few days with party leaders who
seek to learn from his experience. His purpose is not to interfere in the
election process. The president has also met with the prime minister and the
heads of Shas. In keeping with this policy, the president recently agreed to meet
with both Livni and Lapid,” the statement read.
In a Friday interview to Channel 2 News, Livni called Peres
a concerned citizen who is engaged in Israel’s political happenings. “He cares,
he wants to see the State of Israel entering the negotiating room and reaching
an agreement [with the Palestinians],” she said. ”I share in the concerns that
he expressed. That’s why I returned to politics.”
