Despite formidable opposition from senior members of his Labor party, Ehud Barak on Tuesday or Wednesday will meet again with Binyamin Netanyahu as coalition talks towards the formation of the next ruling coalition continue.

Barak responded angrily to his party opponents, stating he is acting responsibly, compelled to hear what the coalition guidelines will be towards evaluating if there is a place for the Labor Party in the new government.

Senior party officials continue to reject the process, insisting the poor results at the polls is a clear sign from the voters that the party must enter the opposition and concentrate on rebuilding itself and becoming a watchdog to oppose the Netanyahu-led government and seek to protect the values and agenda of Labor’s voters.

Senior Likud officials have signaled Netanyahu, to be most generous with Barak in the hope of pulling Labor into the party, a reality that would give the forming coalition a comfortable majority. Barak is being offered two senior posts of three less senior cabinet posts, far more than his party would receive under regular conditions but Likud leaders are seeking to increase their 65 seat majority and Labor’s inclusion would add 13 seats.

Despite the public protests against the party leader’s move, Barak will be meeting with Netanyahu again and if there is any way to secure himself a senior cabinet post, one can rest assured he will do.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)