The coalition talks between Blue and White and Likud, which started off on the right foot last week, hit a snag on Monday. The main points of division are Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria and the appointment of Yuli Edelstein as Knesset Speaker.
Likud officials said the matter of applying Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria under the auspices of the Trump administration's peace outline was "non-negotiable." Party officials said the demand to move forward with the application of sovereignty was clear to Blue and White from the beginning, and that party is unwilling to give Blue and White veto powers on the matter.
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As stated, the sides also disagree over the appointment of the next Knesset Speaker, whom the Likud wants to be from within its ranks. Likud negotiators insist that Yuli Edelstein be re-elected to the position, while Blue and White oppose the proposal. At the behest of Blue and White leader Benny Gantz, negotiators have even suggested returning the Foreign Ministry portfolio in exchange for the Knesset Speaker position, which Likud has rejected outright. Throughout the day Monday, Blue and White mediators also proposed swapping the Foreign Ministry for the Health Ministry portfolio, but Health Minister Yakov Litzman (United Torah Judaism) unequivocally rejected the idea.
Another point of friction between the sides is the identity of the next justice minister from within Blue and White's ranks. Likud officials are extremely opposed to the appointment of MK Avi Nissenkorn to the position, saying they gave up the portfolio on condition that the sides agree on who the next minister will be. The Likud has agreed for Blue and White MK Yehiel Tropper to receive the appointment.
Israel Hayom has learned, meanwhile, that according to the Likud's proposal, in order to ensure that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hands over the premiership in October 2021 to Gantz, both leaders will be sworn in together right now so that Gantz will be able to enter office seamlessly and automatically without having to be sworn in a second time. Thus, if Netanyahu decides to disperse the Knesset before the stipulated date for the transition of power, Gantz would serve as prime minister of the transition government. To facilitate this plan of action, two laws will need to be passed before the next government is sworn in.
On a different political front, Likud officials on Monday responded to criticism from Defense Minister and Yamina faction leader Naftali Bennett, who said his faction won't be receiving a similar number of ministerial portfolios in the next coalition and that Netanyahu was establishing a "left-wing government."
A senior Likud official told Israel Hayom that "the defense portfolio was given to them with their explicit understanding and consent that it was only temporary and only for the duration of the transition government."
The official added: "It was clear to [Yamina] that all three major portfolios were theirs on a temporary basis. Both Shas and UTJ which each have more mandates [than Yamina] conceded to this arrangement because it was agreed that it was just a one-time exception. And the exception cannot become the standard.
"The demand [by Yamina] to receive the Foreign or Finance portfolios is sheer chutzpah. There are also election results to consider; Shas received nine mandates and Yamina only got six," the official said.
Bennett on Monday said his faction was concerned over the allotment of portfolios and that he wasn't sure Yamina would remain in the government under the circumstances.
"We'll wait to hear what the prime minister has to say to us and then we'll decide," Bennett said.
