Secret talks are underway to bring the Kadima party into the coalition. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's aides are examining the possibility of broadening the government by bringing in Kadima, led by Tzipi Livni, without removing the Yisrael Beiteinu party, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Lieberman.
Feverish talks have been taking place in the past few days between representatives of Kadima and of the ruling Likud party. Netanyahu's lawyer and cousin David Shomron is conducting the talks on behalf of Likud. For Kadima, Livni has been involved personally, together with MK Tzachi Hanegbi. Kadima's Knesset members have not been updated about the latest developments. The matter will apparently be decided one way or the other by the end of next week.
According to political sources, Netanyahu's people understand that Kadima will not join the government in its present makeup. They estimate that the intensive talks with Kadima are because of Netanyahu's fear that Ehud Barak and the Labor party's days in the government are numbered. In addition, Netanyahu is looking for extra backing for a renewed freeze on construction in the West Bank and progress in the peace talks with the Palestinians.
The key person in this story is Hanegbi. On Tuesday, his political fate will be decided. If the court adds a finding of moral turpitude to his conviction for perjury in his trial on a charge of making political appointments (he was cleared of the charge itself), he will have to bow out of political life immediately, and it is thought that he will then try to prevent Kadima from joining the coalition and to bring on early elections. If not, he will probably continue to work to join the coalition.
At present, it is not clear whether the talks will result in agreement. As far as is known, Livni wants the Foreign Affairs portfolio, but the prime minister does not intend to remove Lieberman from the post. In addition, the suspicion and hostility between Livni and Netanyahu could undermine the move. Nor is there unanimity in the Netanyahu camp about its advisability. In addition, Kadima MKs, who scent elections around the corner, would prefer to remain in opposition so as to represent an alternative to the government. If they join it now, they will simply enable Netanyahu to remain in power for a full term.
Sources in Yisrael Beiteinu are also skeptical about whether the move can go ahead, particularly since Lieberman has no intention of vacating the post of foreign minister or of leading his party out of the coalition.
Political sources who heard about the attempt to co-opt Kadima into the present government said, "The only portfolio Livni could receive is environment, which Gilad Erdan will free up if he decides to accept an appointment as ambassador to the UN."
Kadima sources assert that they will not join the government with its present composition, and said in response to the report, "Livni and Kadima's conditions for joining the government have been well known since the day Kadima went into opposition a complete change of government policy on both the foreign and domestic fronts, and a new coalition make up that will have a majority for this policy, which is not the policy of the government.
"If anything does happen one day, it will only be if Netanyahu accedes to these conditions unreservedly. Joining the current government is not an option for Kadima."
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 4, 2010
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