Chairman of the Likud Benjamin Netanyahu and the chairman of Shas Aryeh Deri We met today (Wednesday) at the Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem. During the meeting, the parties discussed the possibility that Deri would give up the treasury portfolio in favor of Smotrich, and take the interior portfolio. Besides, the meeting ended after 20 minutes, during which Deri demanded the treasury. After their meeting, Netanyahu met with the chairman of Otzma Yehudit, MK Itamar Ben Gabir.
After the meeting, the Likud party announced that “significant progress has been made in the contacts between the Likud and Otzma Yehudit.”
In the meantime, the ultra-orthodox parties were disappointed to find out that the Likud returned to the original concept of forming the government in stages. It was again suggested that they satisfy the government as soon as possible, while concluding on “limited basic lines” and then approach detailed agreements.
Along with this, the chairman of the Torah flag, MK Moshe Gafni, and the chairman of Otzma Yehudit, MK Itamar Ben Gabir, were also scheduled today for a working meeting in preparation for the formation of the emerging government.
As I recall, at the beginning of the week, Deri informed Netanyahu that he intends to serve as Minister of Finance in the government that will be formed, after Netanyahu receives the mandate to form it from President Yitzhak Herzog.
Officials in religious Zionism responded to the Shas chairman’s demand for the finance portfolio and said: “Bezalel Smotrich is the next Minister of Defense of the State of Israel. Religious Zionism will demand the portfolios of security, education and religions, as well as detailed coalition agreements including budget summaries to ensure the return of security personal, correcting the legal system, regulating settlements and strengthening the Jewish identity of the state.”