Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak has been meeting with various left-wing party leaders over the past few weeks hoping to assemble a unified bloc that would give the Left a fighting chance against the Likud in the next Knesset election – that is no secret. But the head of the center-left Yesh Atid party, MK Yair Lapid, has declared that he will not join any coalition led by Barak.
Barak has already met with Zionist Union Chairwoman Tzipi Livni, former Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and Lapid.
Last week, he sat down with Labor Party chairman Avi Gabbay. According to a Channel 10 report, the purpose of the meeting was so Barak could reassure Gabbay that he had no intention of undermining him on the Left.
Those who met with Barak reportedly came away with the impression that he is seeking to unite the Left but lacks a precise, detailed plan. However, Barak's apparent objective is to be asked to lead such a left-wing bloc, or at least hold a key power position within it.
In recent days, Lapid has reportedly declared in private conversations that he does not intend to join any such coalition and will not be part of the bloc he believes Barak is trying to assemble.
"We're second in the polls right now," sources at the Yesh Atid party said, "and we are the only faction that poses a threat to the Likud government."
"We are also not considered far left like Livni or Labor. You can't 'put out feelers' for political needs. If anyone has a chance of defeating [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu, it's Lapid," the sources said.
"How can we put it delicately – forming a bloc with the Zionist Union would be like getting aboard a sinking ship," they said.
The Yesh Atid members pointed out that Barak is not a consensus figure like former IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, whose possible future in politics is the subject of much speculation.
"Barak can't draw more votes than Lapid, and there's no reason to join," they said.
They also stressed that as yet, any plans for a left-wing bloc were merely talk because no politician would make a move until a general election is announced.
