Lapid forbids Yesh Atid MKs to go on educational tour with lefty Zionist group

[azurnoir]

Concerned for his party's political alliance with Naftali Bennett's right-wing Habayit Hayehudi party, Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid has ordered more than 10 Knesset members from his party to cancel a Jerusalem-area tour with the left-wing Geneva Initiative organization.

Lapid's veto of the MKs' participation shows just how much he fears harming the alliance with Bennett - to preserve the bloc with Habayit Hayehudi, Lapid didn't hesitate to delegitimize a left-wing Zionist organization. Lapid's order is especially puzzling in light of the fact that only a week earlier, Shas MKs took a similar tour with the Geneva Initiative organization, which promotes a two-state solution with Arab East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. A few weeks prior to this, an identical tour took place with several dozen senior Likud members.

But even more puzzling is the fact that none of the Yesh Atid MKs dared to stick to their guns or to argue with the party chairman. Even MKs such as former Shin Bet security service chief Jacob Perry and former Dimona mayor Meir Cohen, as well as former Herzliya mayor Yael German - who in the past participated in activities held by the Geneva Initiative and expressed support for its positions - conformed to Lapid's order.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/israeli-elections-2013/israeli-elections-news-features/lapid-forbids-yesh-atid-mks-to-go-on-educational-tour-with-lefty-zionist-group.premium-1.505807

[Jefferson23]

1. How nice of him:

"At the present time of coalition negotiations, we cannot join a tour with an organization that supports dividing Jerusalem," Lapid told his party's members. "After all, we are against dividing Jerusalem."

[azurnoir]

2. yes we've been told that Lapid's 'victory' was break through for the center Left in Israel

this shows what that really means for the one issue that garners Israel the most criticism

[oberliner]

3. There is such a thing as a "lefty Zionist group" then?

Good to know.

[azurnoir]

4. It was haaretz's title

nothing more or less

[King_David]

5. LOL

[shira]

7. But we were told all Zionists are pretty much the same (Rightwingers).

So if I understand correctly, our friends here for BDS, full RoR, and strict 1967 borders are reading this article from Haaretz and they see right-wingers arguing with other rightwingers?

[Jefferson23]

9. Yep, that's Israel's version of "lefty": "After all, we are against dividing Jerusalem." n/t

[bemildred]

6. Freedom of association is forbidden, how Republican-like. nt

[LeftishBrit]

8. I'm getting to wonder if 'Lapid' is the Hebrew word for 'Clegg'