Likud claims: "Cabinet meeting will not convene tomorrow due to Blue and White's refusal to put Netanyahu and Katz's government economic aid program on the agenda" • Blue and white: "Irresponsible spin" • Netanyahu's associates conducted a "quiet check" with Lieberman and Bennett regarding entering government

• Netanyahu (right) and Gantz

  Photo: 

  Mark Israel Salem

Against the background of the crisis with Blue and White - Netanyahu in efforts to achieve an alternative government: The ongoing "chicken" game between Blue and White and the Likud is expected to continue to accompany us in the coming week. Last night, too, both sides insisted on their positions on the issue of the state budget, and due to the dispute, it was decided last night to cancel the cabinet meeting scheduled for today.

The Likud said: "The cabinet meeting will not convene tomorrow due to Blue and White's refusal to put on the agenda a government economic assistance program of the prime minister and finance minister to deal with the corona crisis amounting to NIS 8.5 billion, which includes assistance to at-risk populations.

The plan will create about 10,000 new jobs in the economy. The plan will transfer NIS 700 million to ensure food security for underprivileged families and NIS 600 million to extend the adaptation grants for those aged 67 and over who were expelled until June 2021. The Likud demands a white brush not to frustrate The transfer of funds to the citizens of Israel at this time of dealing with the corona crisis. "

A white brush said: "The cabinet meeting tomorrow will not take place in light of the Likud's insistence on not abiding by the coalition agreement or approving the government's bylaws guaranteeing its stability. This is not the first time the Likud has not fulfilled its commitment. 

"Blue and White has informed the Likud that any vote related to Corona will not be delayed and will go through a telephone vote. As for the finance minister's plan, it is a billions of years' long-term plan that has not yet been fully presented and finalized.

"We expect the Likud to abide by the agreement and approve the government's bylaws that will allow the stability that is so much needed at this time to continue. Nine million Israeli citizens expect stability and reliability from the government, and Blue and White will not agree to challenge that." 

In Netanyahu's talks with his associates in recent days, the possibility has arisen of seeking an alternative government without blue-and-white people and with possible partners. Netanyahu has authorized his men to begin a "quiet investigation" with potential outside partners. Sources in the Likud have already talked to right-wingers and groped in Yisrael Beiteinu as well - but so far they have encountered negative answers. Sources in Yisrael Beiteinu make it clear that there is no chance that they will join the government and even today they reject such a possibility now.

The storm of service meetings

At the same time, last night it was reported in the news editions on television that two white brush services, Pnina Temano-Shta and Omar Yankelevich, had met with Netanyahu in recent days. In response to these reports, the service claimed that the meetings touched on professional matters related to their office matters, and that their party chairman Ganz was updated at the meetings. "The meeting was held with the knowledge of Bnei Ganz," wrote Minister Tamano Sheta, adding: "No other speculation exists. I will not give my hand to a narrow government. "Minister Yankelevich also tweeted:" No personal meeting was held between me and the prime minister. I participated in a meeting that was held alongside professionals, the National Security Council and the Corona headquarters on the subject of office plans for the Corona period. Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Bnei Gantz was updated in advance at the meeting. Enough with the attempts to produce a spin from routine work. "

Last night, too, the Likud stressed that their position on the budget issue has not changed. According to them, the prime minister is not interested in the election and Bnei Gantz has the option to prevent it.

Ganz: "I will not give up"

In an interview with News 12 that was broadcast last night, blue-and-white chairman Bnei Gantz made it clear that he would insist on a biennial budget, despite Netanyahu and the Likud's demand. "To stabilize the government, a biennial plan is needed," Gantz said. "A budget for a whole year. All the best economists tell this story, so we insist. I will not give up." He claimed that "there are two people who may want elections - Netanyahu and Lapid."

Regarding his relationship with Netanyahu, he added: "The relationship is a good relationship, it is clear what we disagree on." Gantz stressed that "Netanyahu has very, very big personal and legal challenges. He makes additional calculations that I do not have. I guess he has personal and political considerations for which he wants elections. There can be no one who cares about the state and sees what is happening here will conclude that what suits it It's an election. " Regarding the public outrage against the prime minister and against him, Ganz said: "I understand the hatred towards Netanyahu. I understand the disappointment from me."

Given the real possibility of another round of elections, a poll published in News 12 aligns with the other polls published last Thursday and also marks a leap in the power of Naftali Bennett, chairman of the right-wing party. The poll gives the Likud 31 seats, Lish Atid 18, right 16, to the list Joint 15, Blue and White 11, Shas and Torah Judaism eight seats each for Yisrael Beiteinu seven and Meretz six.

In addition, according to the survey, four parties do not pass the blocking percentage: Labor, Derech Eretz, the Jewish Home and Gesher. If Israel is indeed dragged into further elections, 42% of the public will consider Netanyahu to be to blame, compared to 14% who said Gantz is guilty and 31% who blamed both, equally.

Dispute clause

Another major dispute, apart from the budget, between the Likud and Blue and White, concerns the regulations that are supposed to regulate the work of the government. Ministers Zeev Elkin (Likud) and Avi Nissenkorn (Blue and White) were appointed by the government to formulate the bylaws. The most sensitive section the two worked on was to maintain an equal power of a blue-and-white bloc in the government, even though the number of its ministers was three times that of the Likud. In blue and white, about a month ago, they agreed on a wording designed to provide a solution to the problem, but in the end they withdrew.

The Likud says in response that Blue and White can at any given moment appoint the three additional ministers allowed by the coalition agreement, and thus reach equality of power. In addition, Netanyahu's entourage offers Minister Nissenkorn his own wording to solve the problem.

A senior Netanyahu official dismissed Blue and White's fears that the Likud would use the majority in the government to pass an annual budget. "The government's interim regulations require Gantz's consent to issues that come up on the government's agenda. If we wanted to move the budget unilaterally, we could also raise the issue for discussion in violation of the agreement. We do not do that because we do not want to break the tools," he said. Said the senior official close to Netanyahu.

Ariel Kahana participated in the preparation of the article