Last week, prior to his return home from the USA, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu made his position clear, and while he prefers finding a solution for the draft law, he is willing to head to early elections if left without an alternative. That was a clear message to the chareidi parties, telling them there is a limit and he is willing to take his chances at the polls if compelled to do so. Latest polls are very favorable for Likud, as well as for Yahadut Hatorah. Shas however, according the polls, may find itself outside the next Knesset.

As coalition tensions remain high, PM Netanyahu has announced his three conditions in order to move forward with a new draft law.

The first condition is that the draft must be approved by the attorney general and all the chareidi parties; (2) Moshe Kahlon and his Kulanu party must support the law in all three readings; (3) There must be a public commitment by Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beitenu party as well as the other parties permitting the process to move forwards as partners.

Mr. Netanyahu is aware that even if he reaches agreement with the chareidi parties, they require the support of Kulanu and Yisrael Beitenu to pass the bill into law.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)