No new government in sight
The Likud and Blue and White parties continued their negotiations towards the establishment of a government, but no resolution appears in sight.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L), President Reuven Rivlin (C) and Benny Gantz (R), leader of Blue and White party, at the memorial ceremony for Shimon Peres, Israel’s 9th president, who passed away three years ago. The ceremony is held at the Great Leaders of the Nation section of Jerusalem’s Mount Herzl cemetery. Jerusalem, Sep 19, 2019. Photo by Esty Dziubov/TPS
Difference remain on the distribution of the various ministries, and on the crucial issues of the control of the Ministry of Justice and appointment of judges and on the possible annexation of Judea and Samaria and the endorsement of President Donald Trump’s Deal of the Century peace plan.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Blue White Chairman Member of Knesset Benny Gantz met on Friday to advance negotiations for the establishment of a national emergency government, a joint statement by the two parties said.
“The conversation took place in a good-natured atmosphere, and understandings and progress were reached,” the statement said.
The two instructed the negotiating teams to “try and bring as soon as possible to a conclusion that would allow a coalition agreement between Blue and White and Likud.”
The differences reportedly remain significant, and with the Passover holiday beginning this week, the negotiations will continue in two weeks, after the holiday.
In the meantime, MK Amir Peretz, chairman of the Labor Party, announced Saturday to Chairman Meretz MK Nitzan Horowitz that he was ending the partnership between the two parties, further shattering what is left of the left in Israel.
The Labor Party submitted a request to the Knesset Arrangements Committee for the dissolution of the joint faction in the 23rd Knesset.
Labor, with its two remaining MKs, is reportedly on the way to joining Netanyahu’s government, leaving the extreme left-wing Meretz party with three seats.
