What is clear is that negotiations to bring the Machane Tzioni party into the coalition government have collapsed and party leader, Yitzchak Herzog, places the blame squarely in the lap of Shelly Yacimovich.

Herzog called a press conference on Wednesday afternoon 10 Iyar to announced the collapse in talks, stating that those who undermined his efforts have in essence placed Yisrael Beitenu party leader Avigdor Lieberman in the Defense Minister portfolio. He added that accusations he was just after cabinet appointments without standing firm to protect the party line were untrue – stating that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu already agreed to a total halt of all construction in Yehuda and Shomron as well as placing him in a senior negotiating role to advance the diplomatic process with the PA (Palestinian Authority). He blames colleagues in Machane Tzioni for constantly undermining his efforts.

However, Herzog admits that the concessions were not on paper and he used to accuse PM Netanyahu of negotiating in bad faith due to his unwillingness to pen the agreement.

Yacimovich is far from being on the defense, lacing into Herzog who she blames for failing to lead as he should have. She announced she is now thinking of running against him for the party leadership slot. Yacimovich was unseated in the last party primaries by Herzog.

What does appear the case at present is the fact that Yisrael Beitenu and Avigdor Lieberman remain PM Netanyahu’s last hope for increasing his one-seat majority coalition and there are rumors that the Prime Minister has indeed sweetened the deal to bring Lieberman and his six seats from opposition to the coalition and this includes ousting Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and permitting Lieberman to finally realize his ambition of serving as Israel’s Defense Minister.

During his Tel Aviv press conference Herzog stated that the citizens of Israel will now have to deal with government policies “verging on insanity”, in his reference to Avigdor Lieberman serving as Minister of Defense and the entry of his party as a member of the ruling coalition.

As the rumors continue flying in Israel on Wednesday night, Tourism Minister Yariv Levin has stated PM Netanyahu will be meeting with Lieberman possibly Wednesday night or Thursday morning, hinting the two may close as deal in the coming hours.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)