BICOM

The Israeli media is reporting this morning that a Jewish Home memo intended for party members was leaked and rules out the possibility of a joint Likud-Jewish Home electoral list.

Labour leader Isaac Herzog and Hatnuah head Tzipi Livni recently announced that they will run on a joint ticket and polls have indicated that they could head the Knesset’s largest faction. A poll in this morning’s Maariv puts the Labour-Hatnuah list on 23 seats, followed by Likud on 21 and Jewish Home 16.

However, the leaked Jewish Home memo, which was first published last night by the NRG news site, pledges “unity with Likud will not happen.” It apparently says that the best way to defeat the Herzog-Livni alliance is “a very strong Jewish Home.” It also refers to Yisrael Beiteinu leader and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman as “a leftist” and instructs activists to criticise him.

Meanwhile, the composition of Jewish Home could take another turn on Saturday night, when the Tkumah faction is set to decide whether or not to remain in the party. Led by Housing Minister Uri Ariel, Tkuma ran as part of the Jewish Home list at the last election, but apparent ideological differences have led to Tkuma reconsidering its position. It is unclear whether a split would harm Jewish Home’s electoral appeal. If they do leave, Tkuma could join former Shas leader Eli Yishai’s new party.

Meanwhile, Haaretz reports this morning that Herzog and Livni, if elected, will let potential coalition partners decide whether to rotate the Prime Ministership between them. They had originally announced that Herzog would serve an initial two years in the role before handing over to Livni.

Nominations for the Labour Party primaries on 13 January for parliamentary candidates closed yesterday. New names among the 37 candidates include head of the Israeli Reform Movement, Rabbi Gilad Kariv. Meanwhile, one of the spaces on the reserved Hatnuah slots will be taken by prominent economist Prof. Manuel Trajtenberg.