BICOM

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly offered Kulanu leader Moshe Kahlon the job of Foreign Minister in a future Government.

Netanyahu met separately yesterday with Kahlon and Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman in the Prime Minister’s Office. Kahlon has stated that he wants to continue as finance minister, the position he held in the previous government.

Yisrael Beiteinu said their meeting: “Focused on formulating an agreed-on security policy and preserving the status quo on matters of religion and state.” The party has demanded the defence and immigration and absorption ministries, as well as the chair of a Knesset committee, believed to be the Interior Committee.

Yisraeli Beiteinu included in their demands Lieberman’s desire to achieve a “decisive victory” against Hamas. Lieberman resigned as Defence Minister in November last year because he was dissatisfied with the government’s policies on Gaza.

Likud negotiators will meet with the United Right party tomorrow. United Right is thought to be demanding the Justice and Education ministries, as well as a third ministry — either the Jerusalem/Diaspora affairs ministries or alternatively a new national projects ministry. The party also wants one of its representatives to be appointed deputy speaker and chair of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee. The party also wants a representative on the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee who will also chair a subcommittee, as well as a representative on the Finance Committee. One of United Right’s policy demands is for an amendment to the immunity law and the passing of an override clause allowing the Knesset to override Supreme Court decisions.

Although Prime Minister Netanyahu looks likely to be able to form a governing coalition with a mix of ultra-Orthodox and right wing parties, serious differences exist between the religious parties and the Yisrael Beiteinu party over issues of religion and state, particularly the Conscription Law for ultra-Orthodox Jews in Israel.

Lieberman said that his party would not support a government that undermined the status quo on religion and state, but recognised that with five seats the party might not achieve all its demands.