The coalition is looking for an extension: "The next goal - joining the ultra-Orthodox" Israel today

After white nights of voting and debates, the coalition passed tonight (Thursday-Friday) the big test of passing the state budget.

At this point, it will embark on a new political period in which they will try to test its expansion.

On the topic: cooperation with the ultra-Orthodox.

In recent months, the question of the ultra-Orthodox joining the government has received an unequivocal answer - Lieberman said "it is either me or them", and the ultra-Orthodox have made it clear that they are not interested in joining the government at all.

But senior government officials cite the new post-budgetary political situation as an option to bring back the issue of cooperation.

The executives addressed several options that are being considered, including more realistic and less realistic options.

Thus, for example, the same senior officials estimate that the joining of the two parties - Shas and Torah Judaism - seems weak, but perhaps one of them is possible. They also point out that the best and most realistic option is cooperation with the ultra-Orthodox, even without official accession.

"The ultra-Orthodox public has needs. Yeshivas, institutions, dormitories and everything related to life itself. It cannot neglect them for three and a half years because they are bound to Benjamin Netanyahu. The ultra-Orthodox themselves are better off finding cooperation and caring for their public," says a government source.

Do not get excited about Lieberman

And what about big processes, like kosher reforms that go against their way of life?

The government says that in the Netanyahu government there were also cases in which the ultra-Orthodox got along - for example, in the railway construction crisis on Saturday, Litzman resigned as minister and returned to the position of deputy minister.

According to them, there are solutions to everything.

Finance Minister Lieberman in the plenum, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon

The harder nut to crack is Lieberman, but even those in the coalition are not excited about it.

Senior government officials say that cooperation with the ultra-Orthodox means a final disbandment of the ultra-Orthodox bloc and another fatal blow to Netanyahu, in connection with future chances of forming a government.

According to them, Lieberman would be more than happy to inflict such an attack on Netanyahu.

If the bloc disintegrates, it will be more difficult for Netanyahu to return to power.

According to them, there are mechanisms and collaborations that Lieberman will be able to live with.

The profit for the coalition is clear, more fingers in the Knesset for the coalition give "breathing air" when it comes to advancing agendas.

Even if Meretz or RAAM encounter ideological difficulties in voting on the right, the coalition has an importance in relying on more fingers.

The government clarifies that there are no talks or contacts now with the ultra-Orthodox or Lieberman, but this is an issue that is expected to come up again in the coming months.

MKs Gafni and Deri (archive), Photo: Oren Ben Hakon

Relations between the ultra-Orthodox and the coalition have known some "interesting" landmarks recently.

Thus, for example, although Lieberman and Lapid have previously talked about the need for a significant cut in ultra-Orthodox budgets - in the state budget the meeting budget remains very high - NIS 1.71 billion.

A reduction of only about five percent of the budget in the previous government.

Other voices could also be heard from MK Israel Eichler (Torah Judaism), who told Kikar Hashabat: "We have deposited the future in Netanyahu's illusions four times.

He kept deceiving us.

"After the first election he lost, we had to say, 'You have to go, acknowledge that you lost.'"

On the way to final approval

The vote progressed faster than expected, in light of the withdrawal of most of the reservations about the Arrangements Act by the opposition.

However, around 17:00, voting on a section concerning the budget of educational buildings ended in equality 59, so the section did not pass.

This is a section concerning the education budget.

The hearing returned to the Finance Committee.

The reason for dropping the clause - MK Emily Moati (Labor) erroneously voted against. She then explained: "My mistake, I slept for two hours."

The state budget for 2021 was approved by a majority of votes // Photo: Knesset Channel

Earlier, after all the reservations were rejected and all sections of the law were approved, the plenum in the third reading approved the Economic Plan Bill, known as the Arrangements Law, for 2021. 61 votes were in favor of the bill, with 57 opponents.

An amusing moment occurred during the vote, after opposition leader Netanyahu mistakenly voted six times along with the coalition.

Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu voted with the coalition // Photo: Knesset Channel

"hang on"

The approval of the 2021 budget removed the threat of elections from the coalition for several months.

According to all estimates, the budget for 2022 will also be approved and will remove the threat of elections, at least in relation to the budget obstacle, for at least a year and a half.

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett tweeted last night: "Hold on a little longer.

From the moment the budget passes, the state returns to function. Tonight I want to say to all citizens of the State of Israel, those in favor of the government, those against the government and those who are examining the government: Friends, the Israeli government under my leadership will take care of everyone. "

Shikli will be declared retired?

Meanwhile, the possibility of declaring MK Amichai Shikli on the right as a retiree comes up for discussion again. His party is considering the possibility, given the fact that it voted against the budget.

MK Shikli in his debut speech in the plenum, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon

The announcement of a MK as a retiree means that he will not be able to run in an existing party in the next election, but will only be able to form a new party that will unite between parties.

Shikli himself responded: "The people of Israel are wise, and he understands very well who the real retirees are. You can continue to celebrate and declare me a retiree, but deep down you also know that whoever retired from any hint of the original ideology of the right, it is you and the end of truth - forever."