NEW POLITICAL PARTY IN THE KNESSET.

Markowiz, Gideon · 1994

Israel's rich and varied political tapestry received yet another colour on Monday February 7 when "Yi'ud" was formed officially in the Knesset. The acronym “Yi'ud" stands for "A United and Democratic Israel". The three-member Knesset faction - consisting of Gonen Segev, Alex Goldfarb and Esther Salmovitz - broke away from Rafael Eitan's Tsomet Party after they accused Eitan of abandoning Tsomet's original principles of integrity and honesty. The three outlined a long list of financial irregularities and improprieties in Tsomet's budget and transactions and a number of other complaints about the way the party was run. Both Labour and Likud factions seemed to benefit from the split. Labour could point to yet another fragmentation of the right. and a further undermining of the opposition's attempts to put together a large enough alliance. Indeed there is also hope within the Labour Party that Yi'ud will yet join the Government "giving it three extra seats it would crave. For the Likud's leader Bibi Netanyahu the entire episode reduces the standing of the rightist Eitan - who had previously announced his intention to stand for the premiership under the new system of direct election, threatening Netanyahu's natural constituency. Photo shows the membership of the Knesset's newest political party - Yi'ud - announcing its split from the Tsomet faction at a press conference in Tel Aviv on 2 February 1994. In the centre is Gonen Segev reading a prepared statement. He is flanked by Alex Goldfarb and Esther Salmovitz.