The Israeli Change Camp parties, opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, continue to negotiate consensus to form a new government, amid reports of disagreements over the distribution of ministerial portfolios.
The leader of the “There is a future” party, Yair Lapid, who is responsible for forming the new Israeli government, said he hoped to present the new government to the Knesset next week.
At a press conference, Lapid announced that the government he is working on includes parties from the right, left and center, and it will be a government for everyone and work for everyone.
On the other hand, Lapid commented on Netanyahu’s speech in which he said that “moves to exclude him threaten the country’s security,” describing them as irresponsible and dangerous statements, and that they exceeded all limits.
Lapid
Lapid is working to win the support of small parties of different political orientations, but they are unanimous
Disagreements and obstacles
Meanwhile, Israeli media said that there are differences over the distribution of ministerial portfolios, and some close sources spoke of fear of faltering efforts and the collapse of the possible coalition to form the government, before the deadline granted to Yair Lapid, which expires on Wednesday.
For its part, Israeli state radio said that Netanyahu and his supporters in the Likud and religious parties are pressuring members of the “Yamina” party and the “There is a Future” party, in an effort to convince them to defect and refuse to join the government coalition.
Lapid admitted that there are “obstacles”, and refused to reveal the points around which there are still differences. This is our first test to see if we can find smart compromises in the coming days to achieve the bigger goal. “
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had failed to form a government coalition after the last elections that were held on March 23, so Israeli President Reuven Rivlin assigned Lapid the task.
The prospective government parties
Lapid and the leader of the right-wing “Yamina” party, Naftali Bennett, will rotate to head the government, which will include a large number of right-wing and center-right parties, as it seeks the support of the United Arab List headed by Mansour Abbas, which has 4 seats.
Bennett will head the government until September 2023, followed by Lapid, who will lead it until November 2025, according to the Israel Broadcasting Corporation.
Lapid must obtain the support of at least 61 of the 120 Knesset members in order for the government to win the confidence of the Israeli Knesset.
Among the centrist parties, the government will include the “There Is a Future” party (17 seats), the Labor Party (7 seats) and the Blue and White Party (8 seats), while the right-wing parties include in addition to the Yamina party (7 seats), the New Hope Party (6 seats), and Israel. Our House (7 seats), while Meretz (6 seats) is the only left-wing party that will join the government.