JERUSALEM (VINnews) — In yet another blow for Israel’s tottering coalition, a senior member of the coalition is reportedly in talks with Likud representatives to form a new government headed by former prime minister Netanyahu.
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According to a Yediot Aharonot report Wednesday, Justice Minister and New Hope party chief Gideon Saar is in talks with Yaakov Atrakchi, a businessman and confidant of Netanyahu. New Hope member Zev Elkin, a former Likud member who serves as Housing Minister as well as Jerusalem Affairs Minister, is also involved in the discussions.
The reports say that Sa’ar has been offered the Foreign Ministry in return for relinquishing the Justice Ministry to Likud.
New Hope has denied the discussions but admitted that there had been various contacts and offers from Likud.
Due to the current coalition crisis, Prime Minister Bennett is holding a meeting of coalition faction leaders at his office Wednesday.
Saar threatened on Tuesday to leave the government if the Judea and Samaria law did not pass in the Knesset. Ra’am and Meretz had expressed opposition to the routine law which extends Israeli law to Judea and Samaria on a temporary basis, allowing Israel to pursue felons and maintain justice in the region.
Saar warned that failure to secure full coalition support for the bill would signal the end of the current government.
“Coalition members who vote against this law are basically saying ‘I don’t want this government to exist’,” Saar said.
“The vote next week will determine whether this coalition wants to continue to exist or not.”
Saar is also motivated by recent polls which show that his party will not cross the electoral threshold in new elections. Saar may also be influenced by the progress of Netanyahu’s trial which has so far favored the former prime minister’s defense and may end in acquittal or in much more minor charges.
he cant be trusted if he went along with erev rav Naftali Bennett and sits in coalition with Hamas
Is this the same Gideon Sa’ar who declared “Never Bibi”???!!!!
These small party politicians seem like prostitutes. They would apparently entertain any offer anybody is willing to make them.
Is the Right a movement of ideas? An idea can be carried by any of a number of people. Perhaps it is a movement of one man, a man who wants to escape a police investigation.