Speaking with Yoaz Hendel of Galei Tzahal (Army Radio), Moshe Kahlon who heads the Kulanu party explained there is a reason his party is called “Kulanu” (All of Us). He explained that in principle, the more parties in the coalition the better. He explains that from his perspective, the party is committed to social economic change and he is willing to sit in a national unity coalition.
He explained that the voters who placed their faith in his party are not interested in sitting in the government at any price, but only if the party can accomplish the widespread change it promised voters. He explained he could have been finance minister while remaining in Likud without starting a new party so it is not about becoming a senior minister, but about achieving the objectives set by the party.
“There are matters that we wish to advance but we must be given the tools to accomplish this” he added, concluding if he cannot accomplish these objectives if he does not see any reason to enter the coalition. Entering the coalition he explained will depend on if he and his colleagues feel the reforms which they believe are necessary can be accomplished in the coalition being formed.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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3 Responses
A natiional unity government would allow Labor and Likud to monopolitze all the “good” jobs, such as Finance minister, without having to share crumbs with the smaller parties.It also means they could implement the new conscription law enabling them to start closing down the hareidi yeshivos.
Jeffrey Goldberg recently suggested this. It would leave all the small parties save Kulanu out in the cold and unable to hold up the big parties for money and power, which would be good. Herzog and Kahlon are pretty much on the same page on most issues and they don’t disagree much with Netanyahu on security matters.
Likud plus Labor could probably cut a deal on their own, if the offered the Hareidi parties the opportunity to be junior members of the government in return for cancelling penal sanctions for refusal to serve in the army. That way they wouldn’t even have to include Kulanu (which wants a major ministry). The probably with this is whether Herzog would be content to be Netanyahu’s “assistant”.
Another option would be to invite Yesh Atid, on condition that they get no “good” patronage but that the conscription law be implemented as passed. Lapid would be something such as “Minister with portfolio” but he could boast of getting his pet bill passed.