Shas and right-wing parties in Knesset are planning ahead of Sunday night’s political address by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, an address that is Israel’s official response to White House demands to accept the so-called two-state solution and other dictates which are contrary to Israel’s interests.

The prime minister on erev shabbos met with party officials in his coalition, including Shas and Bayit HaYehudi to brief them on his upcoming address.

Following the meeting, Shas leader Minister of the Interior Eli Yishai stressed that a head-to-head conflict with America should be avoided, but the government must also remain loyal to its coalition guidelines and principles on which it was elected and formed. He called on the prime minister not to accept American demands for a total unconditional freeze of settlement construction, emphasizing the need to continue building to accommodate the natural growth in Yosh communities.

In his earlier meeting with Bayit HaYehudi leader Science Minister Rabbi Dr. Daniel Hirschkowitz, the prime minister was told that acceptance of the two-state solution will represent crossing a political red line that would have dire political ramifications. Hirschkowitz stated following the meeting that it appears to him the prime minister has not changed and he appears committed to continuing his nationalistic political policies. He added the two-state solution contradicts Likud’s platform. He further stated his party cannot tolerate a total cessation of construction in yishuvim.

The right-wing coalition partners are signaling that if the prime minister’s address is accommodating to White House demands, a coalition crisis may result.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)