Netanyahu

Far-right Israel Parties Pile Pressure on Netanyahu

Two far-right Israeli parties on Thursday warned Israeli prime minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu they would not join his coalition government unless he gave them their desired portfolios.
 
The stance of the National Union and the Jewish Home parties adds to the pressure on Netanyahu, who is scrambling to form a government more than a month after the February 12 election.
 
The leaders of the two parties told public radio they were joining forces in the negotiations with Netanyahu to improve their chances of winning concessions and their desired ministries in a coalition government.
 
The two parties together control just seven seats in the 120-member parliament but without them, Netanyahu will not have the 61 seats required for a majority in the chamber.
 
"I am not certain that Benjamin Netanyahu will have a majority since we have decided to coordinate our efforts with the Jewish Home," National Union head Yaakov Katz said.
 
The two far-right parties draw most of their support from settlers and are reportedly demanding the housing and education ministries.
Netanyahu is hoping to form a cabinet by next week in order to avoid asking President Shimon Peres for a two-week extension to April 3.
 
LIKUD SOURCES: DEAL WITH LIEBERMAN IMMINENT
Sources closely familiar with coalition talks estimated Wednesday that Likud and Israel Beiteinu negotiation teams may sign a deal as early as Thursday. However, sources in Yisrael Beiteinu expressed some reservations, saying that an agreement may only be signed in a few days. Party MK David Rotem said that significant disagreements still persist on issues related to civil marriages and conversion to Judaism.
 
On Wednesday, Netanyahu met with Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman for a face-to-face session at the Knesset. Following the meeting, Likud sources expressed optimism and said that significant progress was made in the meeting. However, Yisrael Beiteinu sources said some issues have not been finalized yet.
 
On Thursday, negotiation teams for both parties are scheduled to meet and work on drafting their coalition agreement. During Wednesday's meeting, Netanyahu and Lieberman were reportedly able to finalize some issues.
 
On Monday, Netanyahu said that coalition negotiations were far from over. Speaking at a Likud faction meeting, Netanyahu said that "the negotiations are in their midst and we are focusing on substance as well as on the portfolios." However, Likud sources told Ynet at the time that most issues involving Yisrael Beiteinu were finalized. "There is still no agreement because we continue to discuss with them the sensitive issue of government portfolios," one source said.