The Zionist Union launched Sunday its diplomatic platform and pledged to make every effort to establish Israel’s permanent borders through negotiation.

At a press conference, faction leaders Isaac Herzog and Tzipi Livni presented the 40-page which says that Zionist Union will seek to “determine secure and permanent borders for the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state by launching a diplomatic and security initiative.”

The document pledges to attempt this through bilateral talks with the Palestinians. Should this prove unworkable, Zionist Union will involve regional and international powers, but rules out taking unilateral steps.

Any arrangement, says that platform, will be based on the principles of “demilitarization of the Palestinian state; keeping the West Bank settlement blocs under Israeli sovereignty; strengthening Jerusalem and its status as the eternal capital of Israel; and guaranteeing religious freedom and access to the holy places of all religions while maintaining Israeli sovereignty.”

Predicting victory in the 17 March election, Party leader Isaac Herzog criticized the fact Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling party, the Likud, has not offered a campaign platform.

“As you know Netanyahu has failed, and in light of the no-platform the Likud has presented, there’s only one option – and that’s the Zionist Union,” Herzog said.

“The only platform that matters is the platform of a Prime Minister, so only our platform matters,” he added.

The launch of the party platform came on the day after a large rally in Tel Aviv called for a change of government. Although the demonstration was not officially supported by Zionist Union or other opposition parties, it attracted an estimated number of at least 30,000 participants.

Headlining the list of speakers was former-Mossad head Meir Dagan. Calling for change, Dagan said “Israel is surrounded by enemies. Enemies do not scare me; I worry about our leadership.” Describing a “crisis at the helm,” Dagan explained “there is a lack of vision, a lack of direction and determination, and a dearth of exemplary leadership. I fear hesitation and stagnation.”

Opinion polls show Likud and the Zionist Union running almost neck-and-neck.

But political analysts say Netanyahu is better placed to form a parliamentary majority with support from ultra-nationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties, or the two main blocs could form a unity government in case of a dead heat.

A survey published by Army Radio Monday found that 53% of the Israeli public opposes the notion of a national unity government. Only 23% of those polled said they would prefer a unity government, and 24% said they had no preference in the matter.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said Sunday that in the absence of a clear-cut endorsement by party leaders for the next Prime Minister following the March 17 election, he would strive to promote a national unity government and also pursue a change in the system of government in Israel, to further promote governmental stability and avoid frequent elections..

In the Israeli political process, once elections are held, the president asks all party leaders to endorse one of them as Prime Minister, after which the president tasks him or her with forming the government.

Having a clear winner facilitates a smooth endorsement process, but should the results of next week’s elections place the Likud and the Zionist Union neck and neck, the process may prove more complex.

The Basic Law of the State of Israel states: The Government stipulates that once a Prime Minister has been endorsed, he or she has 28 days to present his or her government, with the possibility of asking the president for an additional 14 days to that effect.

If the extension elapses and no coalition is formed, the president may ask party leaders to endorse another Member of the Knesset as Prime Minister, who would be tasked with forming the government and afforded the same period of time. Should he or she fail as well, a general election is called again, until such time as a government is formed.

source: EIPA