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Progress in coalition talks as Bennett drops Foreign Minister demand
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to be inching towards a coalition after Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett agreed that he would no longer seek to become Foreign Minister and instead requested the education portfolio.
Netanyahu has until 7 May to present a new government to President Reuven Rivlin. Apparently, over the weekend, Netanyahu and Bennett agreed the number of portfolios Jewish Home would receive constituting a significant breakthrough. Bennett’s decision to forgo the Foreign Ministry leaves Netanyahu the option to re-appoint Yisrael Beitenu leader Avigdor Lieberman as Foreign Minister, securing his party’s place in the new government.
Netanyahu will apparently consider Bennett’s suggestion that he become Education Minister and that his party also control the Religious Affairs Ministry and chair the influential Knesset Defence and Foreign Affairs Committee. However, it is thought that several senior Likud MKs are keen on the education portfolio themselves, including current ministers Gilad Erdan and Yuval Steinitz.
Meanwhile, Israel Hayom reports that Moshe Kahlon’s Kulanu Party is close to signing a coalition agreement. Having won 10 seats in last month’s election, Kulanu would likely become the second largest party in the coalition. Kahlon himself is set to become Finance Minister, with his party also receiving the housing and environment portfolios.
However, Maariv and Israel Hayom both report that ultra-Orthodox party Shas is unhappy with the terms it is being offered to enter a Likud-led government. Shas leader Aryeh Deri appeared likely to become Interior Minister, but is unhappy that responsibility for the Planning Administration, previously a wing of the Interior Ministry, will come under the auspices of Kahlon at the Finance Ministry. Apparently, Deri has already rejected the suggestion that he become Transport Minister or Economy Minister instead. The Knesset’s other ultra-Orthodox party, United Torah Judaism is expected to sign a coalition agreement and will consequently control the Health Ministry and chair the Knesset Finance Committee.