With the return of Gilad Erdan to the cabinet, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu felt that Minister of Absorption Ze’ev Elkin must be ‘compensated’ after he have his Minister of Strategic Affairs portfolio to Erdan. As a result, Elkin was given the additional post of being Minister of Jerusalem Affairs.
Responding to the appointment was Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, who called this “a waste of taxpayer funds”. The prime minister promised the mayor this would remain in the mayor’s hands and now, he has given it to Elkin.
“Jerusalem is not a consultation prize for anyone” stated the mayor, who added “It is most unfortunate that the public’s money is wasted over political considerations and needless bureaucracy that will just make advancing projects and cooperation between the national government and Jerusalem City Hall more complicated”.
At present it appears most unlikely that any of the opposition parties are going to enter the coalition. If the coalition remains at 61, it is not likely it will enjoy longevity. The situation compels each minister and MK to receive permission before leaving the country, for if they are absent during a no-confidence vote, the result could be the toppling of the coalition government.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
Something tells me that they want in to topple
Eighteen months for the government may be overly optimistic. However,a no confidence vote only causes new elections if the prime minister can’t form a new coalition. If someone is absent for a day, they can re-form the coalition and the vote will new unsuccessful in toppling the government.