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Speculation increases over agreement for Zionist Union to join coalition
Israeli media reports suggest that Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog has reached an agreement with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to join the government, but that there is strong opposition within Herzog’s own party over such a move.
Netanyahu’s 61-member government holds a razor thin one-seat majority in the Knesset and the addition of Zionist Union’s 24 MKs would provide significant breathing space. There has been speculation for several weeks, which Netanyahu appeared to recently confirm, that talks have taken place with Herzog over his party joining the government.
Herzog is quoted by Haaretz saying: “We did not receive an offer that is awaiting a decision.” However, Yediot Ahronot says that an outline agreement already discussed would see Herzog become foreign minister and his party receive an additional seven or eight portfolios. Some reports have suggested that Herzog insisted on control of the Agriculture Ministry, currently headed by Jewish Home’s Uri Ariel, who leads the party’s strident Tekuma faction. Herzog apparently hopes that removing Tekuma from government would make it easier for his party’s MKs to join the coalition.
However, several MKs from Herzog’s own Labour Party faction, which alongside Tzipi Livni’s Hatnuah, comprises the Zionist Union, are quoted vehemently opposing joining Netanyahu’s government. Erel Margalit said that such a move “would turn us from being an alternative into being a spare tyre with a flat”, while Micky Rosenthal described the move as a “clearance sale”. Stav Shaffir, Michal Biran and Shelly Yachimovich have also expressed they would not support joining the coalition.
Meanwhile, Herzog is thought to have met with Livni, who has indicated that her Hatnuah faction of five MKs would not follow Herzog into government. She wrote to supporters: “We have a historic role at this time, to fight for Israel’s values… in the absence of leadership.”
Media reports speculate that Herzog will make a final decision in advance of the Knesset’s summer session, which begins on 23 May.