Reports signal that the entry of Yitzhak Herzog and his Machane Tzioni party into the coalition government is imminent. That said, many senior party officials remain opposed to the move and if a deal is signed between Herzog and Likud, the opposition party is likely to split apart.

Herzog does however appear to have seven or so backers amid the party’s 24 seats and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu will be more than pleased to welcome them towards increasing his current one-seat parliamentary majority.

Minister of Senior Citizens Affairs (Likud) Gila Gamliel told Mordechai Lavi of Kol Chai Radio on Wednesday morning 10 Iyar that she favors a national unity scenario but when asked if she would step aside and vacate her post for a Machane Tzioni minister she stated “It is not happening”. Gamliel was clear, that while she welcomes Herzog with open arms, she is not about to give up her cabinet seat to make it happen.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)