On the backdrop of police investigations into criminal acts committed during the 2013 primaries of the Labor Party which he heads, MK Yitzhak Herzog, also the head of the opposition Zionist Union, clarified on Tuesday, April 12, that he intends to continue to lead Labor. In light of recent developments in the case, including the anticipated police investigation of Herzog under caution for his alleged receipt of financing from people with vested interests during the primary campaign in which he was elected party chairman, six members of the Zionist Union, have called upon Herzog to consider the possibility of resigning or suspending himself from the role of opposition leader.

“Twiddle Dum and Dweedle Dee”: MK Herzog and PM Benjamin Netanyahu (Footage from YouTube)

Members of the steady opposition to the right-wing government have also called upon Herzog to relinquish his role as opposition head. MK Aida Toma-Suliman MK (Hadash – the Joint List) stressed that even before any announcement about the police investigation, “Herzog was not functioning as chairman of an authentic opposition, aligning himself with the policy of racial oppression and occupation of the Netanyahu government, and was preoccupied with crawling into the faltering coalition.“ According to Toma-Suliman, “If an investigation is opened against MK Herzog, I would suggest that he suspend himself from the position of leader of the opposition so that he can devote himself to his own personal matters and let us get on and lead a real, militant opposition against the dangerous policies of the government.” The Movement for Quality Government in Israel has also called on MK Herzog to step down from his role as opposition leader until the end of the investigation.