It now appears that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is not certain to sign on both chareidi parties as negotiators appear locked regarding Shas, which has changed its wish list a number of times. At first it was believed Shas would be among the first parties to sign on to the new coalition, but party leader Aryeh Deri seems unwilling to accept the fact he cannot have the entire Interior Ministry portfolio as the District Planning Board component was promised to the Kulanu party. The prime minster remains hopeful to sign with Yahadut Hatorah in the coming days.
Shas has also raised its Zero VAT (Value Added Tax) bill, calling for the elimination of the vat tax on basic items. Shas stated it will not enter a coalition until this is guaranteed as per its election campaign promises. There are reports quoting officials in the treasury that Israel must charge VAT as it does in line with OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) agreements. Shas states this is not so, insisting the VAT on basic items can be eliminated. Shas adds such a move would assist the 2 million Israelis living under the poverty line.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
Shas is incredibly vulnerable since: 1) it did poorly in the last election, losting a large number of seats; 2) most Israelis are opposed to both hareidim and Sefardim, so from their perspective, teaching Shas a less is a “two for the price of one”; 3) Several secular parties not likely to join the coalition might change their minds if given the opportunity to be “the party that kept Shas out of the government”
Not sure why Bibi isn’t showing proper respect to Deri, by offering to split the prime minster term with him.I think that would satisfy Deri & if Deri received that fair offer it he’d drop all his other demands.
Terrible article. It left out the most important information, i.e., the nose count of parties and Knesset seats that Likud has or is expected to have in its coalition.
What are the chances that Likud can form a government? One would not know from reading this article. My own personal belief, supported only by my suspicions of Mr. Deri’s and Mr. Netanyahu’s motives and integrity, is that Deri is trying to position himself closer the the Israeli treasury, for the same reason that Willie Sutton robbed banks. And Netanyahu is desperate to remain PM, mostly for reasons of his personal vanity.