Jerusalem – Compromise Reached Toward Final Coalition Deal

Jerusalem – A compromise was reached toward the final coalition deal on Wednesday evening, when Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid agreed to give up his demand for the Interior Ministry in return for the Education Ministry.

Yesh Atid also gave up its demand to have no more than 20 ministers in the new government, a move which will allow Likud to honor its coalition agreement with Tzipi Livni’s Hatnua party and give MK Amir Peretz a ministerial position.

In the accepted compromised deal, Yesh Atid MK Shai Piron will receive the post of Education Minister, while Bayit Yehudi MK Nissan Slomiansky will head the Knesset Finance Committee. The Interior Ministry will remain in Likud’s hands, and will likely be given to outgoing Education Minister Gideon Sa’ar.

Bayit Yehudi head Naftali Bennett, who has been working to mediate between Yesh Atid and Likud, was set to meet with Lapid at around 9 p.m. Wednesday evening, following a meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Progress in coalition talks stalled this week after Yesh Atid insisted on obtaining the Education Ministry, which Likud wanted to keep for the current holder of the post, Gideon Sa’ar.

Coalition cut

After 38 days of coalition talks, Meretz MK Issawi Freij proposed a bill on Wednesday to shorten the amount of time allotted for negotiations to 21 days.

“The current situation is intolerable and harmful to society and the market,” Freij said. “To put the entire country on hold in order to play negotiating games is irresponsible.”

According to Freij, Netanyahu is busy with “media spins and fights over portfolios,” instead of dealing with the deficit or passing a budget.

Content is provided courtesy of the Jerusalem Post