The United Right-Wing party on Monday held its second coalition negotiating meeting with Likud, presenting the party’s impressive wish list to Likud representatives, which they explain they will have to familiarize themselves with the document.

Likud apparently understands the needs raised in the document, even if they are numerous, but it is clear to everyone that it is impossible to negotiate about 120 clauses. Therefore, in the past few days, the Bayit Yehudi and Ichud Leumi parties have done their homework and have returned with clear but limited demands.

Last Friday, the first meeting was held, which was defined as “excellent” between the two sides, where the issue of the distribution of portfolios did not arise, but since the escalation took place in the south, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu found time between siren and the siren, – where the subject of division of duties was most likely to arise.

According to Likud ministers, Prime Minister Netanyahu is interested in awarding the education portfolio to Rabbi Rafi Peretz but does not intend to give the justice portfolio to Smotrich. In light of this, they will have to go in new directions, while the demand for education and law is clear in the background, and on the other hand, the housing portfolio that was ostensibly intended in the Likud, would be given to Smotrich, a portfolio also being sought by the chareidim. In other words, Smotrich will receive a less important portfolio, but with more authority to be granted to him, perhaps the Ministry of Religious Affairs, for example.

There is strong coordination between the Likud and the right-wing parties, and it is added that the short meeting held on erev Shabbos is not indicative of an explosion, but rather a willingness on the part of the parties to work in a good atmosphere and efficiency.

One has to say that all the basic guidelines are logical and correspond with the Likud, certainly in all matters of increasing governance. However, the issue of religion and state is less emphasized in light of the sensitivity toward the chareidim and Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman.

The joint statement following the second meeting read: “The meeting took place in a good atmosphere and centered around the basic guidelines and demands of both sides.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)