Coalition of 61 or 65?
Adar 20, 5769, 16 March 09 04:11
by Hillel Fendel
National Union leader Katz(IsraelNN.com) Coalition games: Yisrael Beiteinu is officially in, Kadima says it’s not joining, and Shas, United Torah Judaism and Jewish Home are on their way in. The National Union’s 4 seats are still not in the Likud’s pocket, however.
Following the signing of a coalition agreement with Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home) party on Sunday, the Likud is now two-thirds of the way towards forming a coalition government – on paper. The 27 seats of the Likud and 15 of Yisrael Beiteinu make a total of 42 – and Shas, United Torah Judaism (UTJ), and Jewish Home are set to round it out to 61, just barely a majority of the Knesset.
Placating Jewish Home and UTJ
MK Rabbi Professor Daniel Hershkovitz, chairman of the Jewish Home party (3 MKs), will apparently receive the Ministry of Culture, Science and Sport, while UTJ (5) will receive its desired Deputy Minister and Knesset Finance Committee chairmanship. The party traditionally does not accept full Ministerial positions, in accordance with its desire not to take full part in the non-religious government of Israel.
MK Rabbi Professor Daniel Hershkovitz, chairman of the Jewish Home party (3 MKs), will apparently receive the Ministry of Culture, Science and Sport, while UTJ (5) will receive its desired Deputy Minister and Knesset Finance Committee chairmanship. The party traditionally does not accept full Ministerial positions, in accordance with its desire not to take full part in the non-religious government of Israel.
Shas, for its part, appears slated to receive four ministerial positions for its 11 Knesset Members. Shas leader Eli Yishai said on Monday that he hoped the deal with the Likud would be finalized in the afternoon.
Leaving the Door Open
Both Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu have agreed to forego some of their ministries in the event that Kadima or Labor wish to join the government.
Both Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu have agreed to forego some of their ministries in the event that Kadima or Labor wish to join the government.
Though the media continues to float rumors of a possible last-minute change-of-heart by Kadima that will enable it to join the coalition as a senior partner, party leader Tzipi Livni said on Monday, “I see no reason to be a fig leaf for a 61-MK government… My recent meetings [with the Likud] did not change a thing.”
What About Ketzaleh?
Netanyahu’s hopes for a 65-MK government now hinge on Yaakov "Ketzaleh" Katz and the National Union (Ichud Leumi) party he heads. Ketzaleh has said that his choice of ministerial portfolio is Housing, so that he can oversee and initiate Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria. In the early 1990’s, he served as top assistant to then-Housing Minister Ariel Sharon, and was instrumental in significantly increasing the Jewish population in Judea and Samaria.
Netanyahu’s hopes for a 65-MK government now hinge on Yaakov "Ketzaleh" Katz and the National Union (Ichud Leumi) party he heads. Ketzaleh has said that his choice of ministerial portfolio is Housing, so that he can oversee and initiate Jewish construction in Judea and Samaria. In the early 1990’s, he served as top assistant to then-Housing Minister Ariel Sharon, and was instrumental in significantly increasing the Jewish population in Judea and Samaria.
The Housing Ministry has apparently been promised to Shas, however.
The rabbis of the National Union convened on Sunday night and authorized Ketzaleh to continue to stand strong on his demand for the Housing Ministry. They said he and his fellow party negotiators should “continue to talk with the Likud with the objective of becoming partners in building and doing, while standing strong for the party’s principles, including an end to discrimination against the Jews of Judea and Samaria and increased aid for Torah education.
The party’s rabbinical council includes Rabbis Zalman Melamed, Dov Lior, Chaim Shteiner, Yaakov Yosef (Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef’s oldest son), and David Chai HaCohen, and operates with the blessing of former Chief Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu.
Partial Success
One demand of the party has been obtained: The deposit of budgeted government monies for yeshivot and Torah institutions every month, as opposed to sporadically and randomly, as has been the case until now. The Likud announced before the elections that it had already agreed to do this, as part of its agreement with outgoing MK Effie Eitam.
One demand of the party has been obtained: The deposit of budgeted government monies for yeshivot and Torah institutions every month, as opposed to sporadically and randomly, as has been the case until now. The Likud announced before the elections that it had already agreed to do this, as part of its agreement with outgoing MK Effie Eitam.
An unruffled party source said no meeting is currently scheduled between Likud and NU negotiators, “but it’s OK. That’s how it works.”
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