Concurrent with Peretz's refusal to discuss the possibility of a run-of-the-mill election with the Democratic camp, a split between Numbers 2 in the parties has emerged in the past week

• Shmuli (right) and Zandberg (left): Trying to form a union on the left? // Photo Archive: Oren Ben Hakun

MKs Tamar Zandberg (Democratic Camp) and Itzik Shmuli (Labor Bridge) met last week and began discussing the connection options. "The two are talking about bringing a technical connection between the parties in the upcoming elections and are in close contact with the matter," a clear intention: an attempt to dissuade Peretz from his current refusal By the way he puts pressure on him.

Labor chairman - Gesher, Amir Peretz did not close the door for possible unification on his part, and said on Saturday at the Shabat culture event in Ramat Hasharon: "In 10 days, I will decide whether to connect Meretz to the left-center camp." The whole is no bigger than its parts. "

Against this background, it is widely believed that the matter will be decided only shortly after the submission of the lists (submitting the lists of candidates to the Knesset to the Central Election Committee) in mid-January.

MK Shmuli's office reported that he regularly met with Knesset members from all the parties in the bloc "with a view to seriously examining moves to replace the government and that it does not intend to address its plan."

Itzik Shmuli vs. Amir Peretz // Photo Archive, June 2019

At the same time, the chairman of the Green Party, MK Autumn Shafir, today called on Meretz to reiterate her intention to dismantle the Democratic camp.

"At this point, Meretz has not decided whether to apply for a partnership, and it puts the Democratic camp in danger of being dismantled. Internally and going to war for the state, we are all together. " She added.

In response to Shafir's comments, Meretz officials have sharpened the tone and told "Israel Today" that "Shapir is acting in a megalomaniac and ego trip that may bury the entire camp. Shapir is playing a fire in the future of the Israeli left."

On behalf of the Democratic Camp it was stated: "The Democratic camp is muscular and extant. We were surprised to hear that Shapir announced an independent run before formal negotiations between the parties began. Unification cannot be called on the left and at the same time to create single factions. "