In talks with his potential partners, Netanyahu did not rule out the outline, in the first part of which he will serve as the alternate prime minister. • Saar agreed in principle to support the government on these terms. And Netanyahu's stay in Balfour
Benjamin Netanyahu, Naftali Bennett
Photo:
Joshua Yosef, Miriam Alistair / Flash 90
In the round of Netanyahu's meetings with members of his bloc over the past two days, various options for forming a government have emerged.
Among other things, the parties discussed the need to find a creative solution to the Smutrich issue and its opposition to relying on RAAM, as well as the need to put pressure on Saar's party members as well as members of other parties, in an attempt to find defectors.
It has now been revealed here for the first time that another scenario has emerged in the discussions that will serve as a "last resort" for the parties before the loss of Netanyahu's rule.
Netanyahu agreed to examine the scenario detailed below, and it turns out that Gideon Saar also relied on him.
According to the scenario, although in the election campaign Netanyahu emphasized that he would not agree to a rotation - this time he will be forced to agree to a rotation with Naftali Bennett.
The right-wing chairman will serve first as prime minister, and Netanyahu will serve as the deputy prime minister as the law allows for Bnei Gantz in the last government. According to an investigation conducted in recent days by political figures with Saar's people, the new Tikva chairman agreed to enter such a government. Does not stand in her head.
Such a scenario is joined by several conditions:
a.
The rotation period:
Netanyahu refuses to be divided into two or two years, and so far he has not specified in the talks for what period of time he will agree for Bennett to head the government.
It should be noted that Netanyahu's expression of consent to the rotation is a significant change.
B. The legal obstacle: The
Likud will demand from Bennett that in the event that the High Court rejects the possibility that Netanyahu serves as an alternate prime minister, Bennett will vacate his seat for Netanyahu.
third. Prime Minister's Residence:
According to the scenario in question, Netanyahu and his family will remain at the residence in Balfour throughout the period, even when he does not serve as prime minister. Bennett is expected to agree to this condition, and he will remain at his home in Raanana. .
People close to Netanyahu raised the possibility that another Likud member would serve as prime minister as a last resort - in order to get Saar to join the government.
Last night, Netanyahu continued the round of talks with his potential partners in the bloc. , For the first time at the Prime Minister's residence on Balfour Street in Jerusalem.
Before entering a meeting with Netanyahu, Bennett said: "Since the election, countless Israelis have asked me, literally, to get the State of Israel out of the ongoing chaos. I come here with a lot of good will and I pledge to do everything I can to rescue Israel from the chaos, and form a good government. "It's time for national responsibility."
After the meeting between the two, the Likud and Yemina issued a joint statement: "The meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yemina chairman Naftali Bennett ended. It was conducted in a good spirit and in a positive atmosphere. It was agreed that they would meet again."
At the same time, the chairman of the joint list, Ayman Odeh, yesterday ruled out the possibility of supporting a government led by Naftali Bennett - a move that would make it difficult for a bloc of Netanyahu's opponents to replace the Likud chairman as prime minister.
In an interview with Nas Radio in Arabic, Odeh clarified: "We will not agree under any circumstances to support or allow the formation of a government headed by Naftali Bennett."
He added that "we will not replace a racist with another racist," comparing the right-wing chairman to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Against the background of the meeting between Netanyahu and Smutrich, the possibility of Netanyahu forming a narrow government again rose to the headlines yesterday when members of religious Zionism and the Prime Minister supported it from the outside. In an interview with Kikar Hashabat, Itamar Ben Gvir was asked several times if he would oppose forming a government. From the outside, and replied: "I will not be a partner in such a government."
Ben Gvir was again asked if he would vote against, and repeated the sentence "I will not be a partner in the government."
The interviewer again insisted and asked Ben Gvir if he would sit in opposition and vote against - and Ben Gvir refrained from changing his answer.
Following these remarks, the PM's entourage was outraged at Smutrich and claimed that "he is preventing the possibility of a right-wing government being formed with the support of the PM".
But party chairman Bezalel Smutrich was quick to pour cold water on the scenario and clarified in a conversation with Israel Today: "Not from the outside, not from the inside, not maybe, not avoidance, not honestly and not indirectly.
We will vote against any cooperation with Abbas.
Maybe Itamar did not understand the question, maybe he wanted to coordinate with me first, in any case - will not arise and will not be.
point".
Lapid flew on Holocaust Day
Meanwhile, opposition leader MK Yair Lapid took off yesterday morning for a six-day vacation abroad. Lapid went on vacation on Holocaust Martyrs 'and Heroes' Remembrance Day and is expected to return from his visit to the United States on the eve of Independence Day.
Therefore, it will not be within the borders of the state during the events of the Day of Remembrance for IDF Martyrs and Victims of Hostilities to be held in Israel. The decision provoked criticism because Lapid holds an official state position.
Daniel-Roth Avnery participated in the preparation of the article
