The Knesset on Monday evening passed the bill seeking to enlarge the incoming cabinet by a small margin in a 61-59 vote. It is clear that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is seeking additional partners for as a seasoned politician he knows he cannot rely on a minimum majority of one for longevity of his administration.
Likud MK Ofir Akunis told Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) on Tuesday morning 23 Iyar that there is a good chance if the incoming administration appears stable, Avigdor Lieberman and his Yisrael Beitenu party will join.
Tzachi Hanegbi, who will likely become Deputy Foreign Minister while the prime minister holds that ministerial appointment for Lieberman, also states that he feels that when the time is right, Lieberman will return.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
2 Responses
The only party likely to desert the coalition is Kulanu, and Lieberman’s added seats won’t reduce the coaltion’s vulnerability to a Kulanu desertion. In addition, a key selling point of Yisrael Beiteinu is being anti-hareidi, so joining a coalition with hareidim will hurt him with his “base.”
Just because people disagree on things, doesn’t make them anti-anything. People can have legitimate perspectives. I seriously doubt Yisrael Beiteinu is anti-Chareidi.
Both Yisrael Beiteinu and the Chareidi parties need to clean up their act. They are all self serving and demagogue issues and act irresponsibly.