The escape from the drowning Blue and White: Minister Meirav Cohen switches from Gantz to Yair Lapid

January 5, 2021   

Another blow to Benny Gantz: Minister of Social Equality, Meirav Cohen, is leaving Blue and White and joining the Yesh Atid party. Suffering from a medical problem? Feeling alone? • Can earn 6,400 NIS per month from the situation Cohen will resign from the government and the Knesset on Sunday. She is expected to take a seat at the party's top brass. "I know this is not surprising to some of you because we have had quite a few conversations about this recently," the minister wrote to the remaining members of the faction. "I am full of appreciation for each and every one of you and thank you for the very exciting and challenging period we have gone through together. It is important for me to express my appreciation and great love for my son. We have reached a point where our opinions differ, but this does not detract from my appreciation for him." Meirav Cohen is the ninth MK to leave Blue and White in the past two weeks. The Blue and White list now includes only party chairman Benny Gantz and ministers Michael Biton, Hili Trooper, Orit Farkash HaCohen, Pnina Tamano Sheta, Omer Yankelevich and Alon Shuster. Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid and Minister Meirav Cohen will make a joint statement to the media tonight at 8:00 PM. Following the resignation, Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz is on track to become Minister of Defense, Media, Justice and Veterans Affairs. Meanwhile, negotiations between Lapid and Moshe Ya'alon are stalled. Ya'alon insists on keeping the Telam list and the armor for his people, while Lapid demands the disbandment of the list. Former Yesh Atid MK and Tnufa Party Chairman Ofer Shelah is in advanced talks with former IDF Spokesperson Ruth Yaron regarding a joint run in the upcoming elections. Israeli Party Chairman Ron Huldai will present new candidates on the party's list tonight.