After the explosion that occurred in the coalition negotiations on Thursday, the parties broadcast a willingness to open a new chapter and try to move forward. The official starting point, as far as all parties are concerned, is the same point on which the last negotiation conversation exploded: Religious Zionist chairman Bezalel Smotrich demands the security portfolio, while Shas party chairman Aryeh Deri continues to demand the finance portfolio.
Report: The opinion of the ombudsman stated that Deri cannot be appointed as a minister
The unofficial agreement reached last week between the Likud and Deri on the latter’s relinquishment of the Ministry of Finance in exchange for an improved package of positions became irrelevant in the face of Smotrich’s opposition. In the meantime, even in the absence of formal negotiations, Likud forwarded to Smotrich the proposal, according to which a member of his list would be appointed to the position of minister or deputy minister in the Ministry of Defense, in charge of the Civil Administration.
Bezalel Smotrich celebrates on election night. Courtesy of TPS
Sources in religious Zionism say that the offer as “compensation” is unacceptable, and that Smotrich will insist on the security portfolio even in further negotiations. and her promises to her many voters,” they say in religious Zionism.
Against the background of the difficulties in the work of putting together the government, the chairman of Otzma Yehudit MK Itamar Ben Gabir announced on Tuesday about the split of his faction from the religious Zionism of Bezalel Smotrich. Ben Gvir explained that this is a “technical procedure”, in accordance with the agreement signed on the eve of the elections between the factions (see separate news).
In a statement published by Ben Gabir, he announced the conversation he had with Likud Chairman Benjamin Netanyahu the other day, during which he justified, according to him, Smotrich’s insistence on receiving the security portfolio in the next government, and said that he urged the designated prime minister to comply with the demand. “Smotrich’s demand for the security portfolio It is a legitimate demand, which will make it possible to implement a full right-wing policy, to establish new settlements in Judea and Samaria, to approve thousands of housing units, to stop construction in Area C and to stop the evacuations in the hills,” said Ben Gvir. According to sources around him, “Netanyahu listened and heard.”
Whereas MK Zvika Fogel of Otzma Yehudit said on Network 2: “Smotrich will be a defense minister no less good than the current defense minister.” If we do not reach a situation where our demands and those of religious Zionism are realized together, there is a situation where we will find ourselves in the opposition.”
Member of Knesset Itamar Ben Gabir in the President’s House (Photo: Kobi Gideon for the Prime Minister)Smotrich, for his part, expressed a willingness to resume contacts. At the end of Shabbat, his office announced: “Smotrich canceled a trip to New York for the Chabad delegates’ conference in order to exhaust the coalition negotiations and bring Israel to the establishment of a full right-wing government as quickly as possible. Smotrich once again appealed to the Likud to hold a continuous marathon of discussions with all partner parties To bring the negotiations to an end and establish a government as soon as possible.”
Against the background of the crisis in the negotiations, tensions are increasing within the Likud faction. The members of the list are eagerly awaiting the start of the round of meetings that Netanyahu is expected to hold with them in order to distribute the positions among the members of his party.
Against the background of the internal tensions, MK Boaz Bismut said in “Shavbartu” in Kfar Yona: “The security portfolio should remain in the hands of the Likud. I’m sorry that we haven’t formed a government yet. It is impossible for partners who know each other well not to end the negotiations much faster.” Likud officials told “Maariv”: “In our estimation, the crisis in its dynamics is converging on a solution. It’s always better to form a government quickly and pleasantly than after crises and threats and in the 90th minute, but Netanyahu is also very familiar with the last and less sympathetic scenario, and knows exactly what to do.”
According to estimates among sources close to the negotiations, the solution that will satisfy Smotrich is the transfer of the Israel Land Authority (RAMI) to him in exchange for significant compensation to be given to Torah Judaism. RAMI is currently in the Ministry of Construction and Housing, when the designated minister Yitzhak Goldknopf firmly refuses to part with it. The sources add that in Torah Judaism it is necessary to realize that the crisis is real, and that a solution must be sought and not be fortified by blanket refusal.