It is difficult to understand what Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has planned for the Bayit Yehudi party vis-à-vis the new coalition government as it appears that he is not favoring the party as he promised would be the case. Bayit Yehudi officials accuse Likud and the prime minister of falling short of promises to regard Bayit Yehudi as a senior coalition partner following elections. However, while polls showed Bayit Yehudi would receive 13 or more seats, the party failed to hold its own and dropped from 12 to 8 seats in elections. This undoubtedly plays a role in the fact that Likud negotiators are now viewing Bayit Yehudi as a major player.

According to a Channel 10 report, party leader Naftali Bennett’s aspirations of becoming the next foreign minister will not be realized as Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu plans to permit Yisrael Beitenu leader Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman to remain in the post for a second term. This is a necessary move to prevent Yisrael Beitenu from moving to the opposition.

It also appears that the Justice Ministry and Ministry of Public Security, which are sought after by Bayit Yehudi, will remain in the hands of Likud. Bennett also asked to become defense minister, which was rejected as Moshe Ya’alon is going to remain in the post for another term.

It remains to be seen how PM Netanyahu will reach a deal that is acceptable to Bayit Yehudi as reports indicate many senior ministries are being given to other parties. In addition, one might question why the preferential treatment to Yisrael Beitenu which has only six seats while Bayit Yehudi, which has eight seats, has also threatened to go to opposition if its demands are not met.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)