The clock is running out for Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu who is working in earnest to complete formation of his new coalition. The deadline is this Wednesday, 17 Iyar.

Mr. Netanyahu on Thursday met with Shas leader Aryeh Deri twice but there were no reports of significant progress. The prime minister will be meeting with Deri again today, Sunday, as well as with Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett.

Ministry of Religious Services

This ministry is now promised to Shas over the objections of Bayit Yehudi. The latter however appears willing to accept having a deputy minister in the ministry as an acceptable consolation prize. Deri, who is far from a novice regarding coalition negotiations, is objecting and using the deputy minister issue to gain control of another ministry. Realizing that Bayit Yehudi is unlikely to back down to this demand for a deputy minister, Deri wants control of the Ministry of Galil & Negev Development as a consolation prizes for bringing a Bayit Yehudi deputy minister into his ministry. Deri also was to see Yitzchak Cohen appointed as a Minister in the Finance Ministry to give his party a presence in the treasury.

In addition, Shas wants the control of the nation’s batei din moved from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Religious Services. Legal experts report this is not permitted under the current law but Deri remains insistent nonetheless, perhaps signaling the law will have to be amended to accommodate his demands.

Bayit Yehudi

Bayit Yehudi continue talks with the prime minister, now demanding control of the Ministry of Education with an additional 1 billion shekels in funding for the ministry after large sums were cut from the ministry in recent years. Bayit Yehudi negotiators point out this was the sum given to Yahadut Hatorah in its coalition talks.

Yisrael Beitenu

It is not known if PM Netanyahu will persuade Avigdor Lieberman to join the new coalition which will contain the Yahadut Hatorah and Shas parties, during his election campaign, Lieberman stated he would not enter into a coalition with the chareidim. If Lieberman does enter the coalition, he will stand firm on his demand to continue serving as foreign minister as well as Sofia Landver continuing to serve as Minister of Aliyah & Absorption.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)