Likud negotiators will be meeting with representatives of Avigdor Lieberman on Thursday 11 Iyar towards closing a deal that will permit the Yisrael Beitenu party leader to enter the government before Shabbos.

In reality, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is drawing on all of his years of experience and professionalism as a career politician to push this appointment though. The chareidim are not pleased with Lieberman’s entry as they all prefer Ya’alon. The animosity between the chareidim and Lieberman reached unprecedented levels in the past year as Lieberman used any and all platforms to express opposition to the chareidi tzibur.

Clearly PM Netanyahu must have compelled Lieberman to back down on a number of demands, first and foremost his call to undo the amended draft law that was changed in the current Knesset to meet demands of the chareidi parties. Lieberman has also been calling for a separation of religion and state. That said, the Prime Minister had to obtain the green light from coalition partners to bring Yisrael Beitenu into the coalition, including Shas and Yahadut Hatorah.

Kol Chai Radio reports on Thursday 11 Iyar that the matter was presented to HaGaon HaRav Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita for a decision. Details are not being released at this time.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)