Yesh Atid chairman MK Yair Lapid convened a press conference tonight (Tuesday) during which he announced his newcomer to his party – Minister of Social Equality Meirav Cohen, who announced earlier today that she was leaving the Blue and White party and joining Lapid.
In his opening remarks, Lapid said: “I want to tell you something surprising about the upcoming elections: they will be about values. This will not be last month’s reality show. The elections will be about the real thing. The question is which country and which government we want to be here.”
“Meirav joined us because only a large and strong ‘there is a future’ will ensure that a new, sane, liberal, law-abiding government is formed here,” Lapid said, adding: “You know we can be trusted. When we say something, you know we will keep our word. As long as there is a future It will be bigger and stronger, these values will be more widely represented and will lead the country. “
Cohen spoke afterwards and announced: “I stand here today to announce that I am joining Yesh Lapid’s Yesh Atid. A leader I greatly appreciate and believe in. I chose to enter politics to make Israel a place where people can grow old with dignity. A place where adults “Holocaust survivors and other vulnerable populations are treated fairly and respectfully, and in order to make Israel a more egalitarian state.”
Meirav Cohen (Photo: Elad Gutman)The minister noted that she “got up in the morning to help the people”, adding: “But you can not really help, you can not provide the citizens of Israel with a functioning government, which will focus on the enormous challenges we face, when we have a prime minister who repeatedly drags us to elections. We deserve a different leadership. “
Cohen is expected to submit her resignation from the government and the Knesset tomorrow, as most of its members did. In a farewell message to her friends in “Blue and White”, Cohen wrote: “I decided to leave Blue and White and run on behalf of Yesh Atid. I know that it is not surprising to some of you, because we have had quite a few conversations about it recently.” It is important for me to express my great appreciation and love for my son (Ganz). We have reached a point where our opinions are divided, but that does not detract from my great appreciation for him. ”