Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Monday 1 Adar 5773 will be meeting for a second time with Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid. In addition, he will be meeting later in the day for a first time since elections with Bayit HaYehudi leader Naftali Bennett. The meeting with Bennett carries additional significance for the media as Bennett and Mr. Netanyahu have not met for a number of years, since Bennett resigned as the prime minister’s bureau chief.

Bennett resigned from his former senior position in 2008 and hasn’t met in person with Mr. Netanyahu since. Today he will meet as the head of a potential coalition party and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will present him with the new modified share the burden plan prepared by Professor Eugene Kandel. According to Maariv report, both Bennett and ally Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid Party plan to reject the plan, which is too diluted for them as they wish to see a larger chareidi draft and stronger measures taken against those not complying with the new draft law.

Bennett on Sunday 30 Shevat 5773 tried to clear a path for negotiations with the prime minister, issuing a statement to the media apologizing to both Mr. and Mrs. Netanyahu, then showering the prime minister’s wife with praise as the events leading to his decision to leave in 2008 stemmed primarily from Mrs. Netanyahu.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)