Coalition talks to form a new Israeli government have moved up a gear as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reaches the time allotted to him by President Reuven Rivlin to form a new government and he intensifies efforts to reach understandings with coalition partners.
In the past day, Netanyahu's Likud seems to have reached an understanding with Habayit Hayehudi. Party chairman Naftali Bennett, who had wanted a more senior portfolio, will likely continue as Minister of Economy and will also be Minister of International Strategy. Uri Ariel will leave the construction and housing ministry to become Minister of Agriculture, while Ayelet Shaked will also be given a cabinet portfolio.
At the same time, Netanyahu has instructed the Likud negotiating team to step up the pace of its talks with Moshe Kahlon's Kulanu party so that an agreement will be signed before Independence Day. Kahlon has been promised the finance ministry but is at loggerheads with the Likud over the chairmanship of the powerful Knesset Finance Committee, which Netanyahu prefers to give to United Torah Judaism.
Netanyahu will meet tomorrow with Yisrael Beitenu head and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman to discuss his demand that he stay on at the foreign ministry.
Netanyahu planning forming a government of 61 MKs with Kulanu, Habayit Hayehudi, Shas and United Torah Judaism, and only then deciding whether to add Liberman's party, or maybe even a national unity government with Isaac Herzog's Zionist Union.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on April 16, 2015
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2015