Underscoring all negotiations is the fact that Bibi needs a deal with Yacimovich, Lapid or Bennett to get a majority government.There is no way that Bibi wants another election because he will be the big loser. Bibi had given a sweetheart deal to Shas on “equal sharing” but now he is renegotiating with them more concessions. He will not let them into the government until a compromise deal is struck with Shas, Lapid and Bennett on the issue so all can be in the government. If he were to make a deal with Shas prior to the compromise being worked out acceptable to Lapid and Bennett he would jeopardize the deal. Ted Belman
Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid and Bayit Yehudi head Naftali Bennett at Knesset swear in, Feb 5, 2013. Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post
After three weeks of coalition talks, there has been no significant progress in negotiations between the two largest factions, Likud Beytenu and Yesh Atid, on the key issue of how to equalize the burden of IDF service.
But Yesh Atid did compromise on the issue for the first time over the weekend in ongoing talks with its political ally, Bayit Yehudi chairman Naftali Bennett.
According to a Channel 10 report confirmed by both parties, Lapid agreed to Bennett’s request to increase the number of haredim who would be given draft exemptions from 400 to 2,000. He also acquiesced to haredim being drafted at age 21 rather than 18.
Bayit Yehudi representatives will discuss such compromises with their Likud Beytenu counterparts on Sunday after rejecting the Likud’s plan for equalizing the burden of service in a meeting on Friday. At the meeting, Bayit Yehudi representatives also raised the issue of compelling haredim to study the core curriculum, including English and math. Such issues were also raised in a Likud meeting on Friday with Shas leaders.
Labor chairwoman Shelly Yacimovich blasted the political partnership of Lapid and Bennett in a letter to her supporters on Saturday.
“There is a ridiculous notion that has been promoted by brothers Lapid and Bennett, as if all of Israel’s problems will be solved if only more haredim are drafted to the IDF,” Yacimovich wrote. “We will lead the opposition and not join the government, not because we are disqualifying one party or another, but because our ideology does not intersect that of the government.”
In Bayit Yehudi’s talks with Likud Beytenu, Bayit Yehudi representatives asked to reopen the deal Likud Beytenu reached last Tuesday with The Tzipi Livni Party. But a source in Bayit Yehudi said the changes requested were not drastic and that Livni could live with them.
“Opening a deal that has been made is not ethical,” Livni warned in an interview on Saturday night on Channel 2’s Meet the Press program. “I don’t think the prime minister would break an agreement with me, I don’t think Yair Lapid would agree to that, and I won’t let it happen. I will stand for all the commitments in the agreement being maintained, period. These commitments were made to me, to my party and to the world.”
Livni blasted Lapid for making a deal with Bayit Yehudi, which she called a party that represents the opposite of what we in the Center-Left bloc want to advance. She expressed hope that both Yesh Atid and Labor would join her in the government.
“I hope Labor’s decision to remain in the opposition is not final,” she said. “My joining is an opportunity for Labor to reconsider. Shelly should realize the situation has changed.”
Defending her decision to join Netanyahu’s government, she said that “to be at the center of decision-making is not being a fig leaf.”
“I have not folded up any of my banners,” she said. “I didn’t do this for the personal good of Tzipi Livni. I came back to advance issues that are important for the country.
I could not have stood on the side and raised my hands [in despair] when I could contribute.”
Bayit Yehudi’s chief coalition negotiator MK Uri Ariel called talk of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu initiating a new election because the coalition might not be able to be formed nothing more than political spin.
Ben Caspit reported on Friday in The Jerusalem Post’s Hebrew sister newspaper Sof Hashavua that if a new election were initiated, former prime minister Ehud Olmert would run.
“I am running this time because the last election proved the public does not really want Netanyahu,” Olmert was quoted as saying in closed conversations. “I don’t care what my chances are or what people say. If Bibi doesn’t form a government and there will be new elections, I am running.”
Olmert’s spokesman dismissed the report as speculation.
yamit82 Said:
Op-Ed: Hagel’s $160 Billion ‘West Bank’ US Troops Deathtrap
It is difficult to imagine that any american would be insane enough to recommend such a plan as the quagmire could be greater for the US than viet nam. None of these missions wrt Israel have been successful from pr 1956 days right through to the post lebanon 2006. The “consrvative” reagan immediately high tailed it out of lebanon when hexbullah blew up the 200 marines for which the US never exacted payment.
even if it were all agreed upon and took place it would fall apart with the US running away as usual and Israel would have to go in. If it was implemented and then fell apart I wonder how bad it would be for Israel. Israel would not have to police pal cities, no more bds talk while it lasted, the US would be the focus of complaints and problems. where would these troops be stati0ned, what lines of separation? How would israel deal with pal rockets fired from behind US lines? If it can be treated as a situation bound to fall to pieces with Israel going back afterwards perhaps it isnt so bad. The foreigners would more likely use it as a sham fig leaf for a final confed with Jordan. Abbas has stated that the pal state wouldnot be able to exist on its own. Then again Israel may have already agreed to a final situation of confed with Jordan down the road.
the US would be cuckoo not to remember the 200 dead reagan marines.
I am pretty much convinced that there is no israeli resolve to annex a substantial part or all of YS, or to settle YS with Jews or to transfer the arabs out. If that is the israeli position then it is purely a question of how much, if not all, of area C Israel will give up to the pals and if any part of Jerusalem. The issue of a link to gaza and returning pals to Israel pre 67 will disappear. If this is the end Israeli goal then the hagel plan is no different than the Israel plan, perhaps even better.
Bernard Ross Said:
Op-Ed: Hagel’s $160 Billion ‘West Bank’ US Troops Deathtrap
Bernard Ross Said:
https://www.israpundit.org/archives/53046
Get in touch with Gerry Adams while you’re at it, Quigley. Save the Republic!
“I have my own views well known here but unless that is DISCUSSED in great detail then great problems exist and will be intensified.”
You need to get in touch with an Israeli Consulate office, Quigley, and tell them about yourself and your ideas before their country is lost! Hurry!
Livni is nothing more than a true traitor to the Jewish people. She is (to not use a word which will trigger the filtering software) the “woman of the evening” of Obama. She is a true sociopath who would support Hamas running the Israel government if her master Obama told her to. Since Obama and the Euro Nazis have no hesitation weakening Israel by pressuring Bibi to let this traitor have another opportunity to weaken Israeli, Israel should refuse US aid and cultivate as much as possible relationships with countries that aren’t assisting the Fakestinian Mafia and their willing executioners (Arab nations) are in finishing Hitler’s final solution as Obama and the Euro Nazis are clearly actively engaged in.
Felix Quigley Said:
It has been suggested that her constituency is foreign donors and that a deal has been made for BB to put her into the position they want her to occupy.
Felix Quigley Said:
I think that what is missing is the knowledge of what deals have been made under the table that BB intends to implement. It is as if the voter hasn’t been given the real script in this drama. Vote for the right and the left is put in charge anyway. what is BB really up to?
Is there a chance that BB would bring in Yacimovich. If that were to occur would it not point out that BB’s goal is a govt that appears to be forcing him to give away more of YS than he pretended? the choice of Livni for Justice ministry and negotiations appears to validate a goal of killing the Levy Report and backing off E1 and perhaps initiating another settlement freeze. What possible reason could he have for her to have these ministries? The marriage of Lapid and Bennett is strange and signals that their main thrust is “equal share” and YS is secondary. Is there also the possibility that the enmity between BB and Bennett is greater than their interest in YS? So far the left appear to be winning the election which ther lost. Perhaps Zelasko was right, that the draft issue is a red herring. Perhaps it is meant to put those who will give away YS into power. ery strange
Felix Quigley Said:
Revolution.
The focal point in recent times has been the forcing of the Jews from Gaza by Sharon in 2005.
It seems from reading above that things have not moved on in Israel.
There were many features of the 2005 Gaza shameful episode that are still there today.
1. The IDF followed orders and enacted the cruel pullout
2. 95 per cent of the Media were backing it
3. The same political players, Olmert, Livni, Lapid and Netanyahu are still operating at the very top (Netanyahu held back and did not act)
That is my memory of 2005. The vast majority of the political parties were for. The people were confused and unstable. As opposition from the youth of Yesha (I EMPHASISE TOTALLY WITHOUT A CENTRAL PARTY LEADERSHIP AND NEARLY SPONTANEOUS) was advanced it showed that Sharon’s position too was unsteady and more and more Israelis (but too late) were swinging against the pullout.
If I remember rightly it was finally rammed through with the IDF, the IDF generals of course, the very rabbis themselves and the Yesha Council.
There was no party to lead. The youth were operating from their own enthusiasm and initiative. There is still no party to lead.
from above…”
“I have not folded up any of my banners,” she said. “I didn’t do this for the personal good of Tzipi Livni. I came back to advance issues that are important for the country.
I could not have stood on the side and raised my hands [in despair] when I could contribute.”
One would have thought that Livni was gone, retired, finished.
What is her actual constutuency. She must indeed have one.
What can she “contribute”…we all know. She and lapid are full of hatred for the Jews keeping Judea and Samaria, and for Jews who advocate that.
It is exactly the same theme that was played out between the “Revisionists” and Ben Gurion.
It is obvious that THERE IS SOMETHING MISSING IN ISRAELI POLITICS. I have my own views well known here but unless that is DISCUSSED in great detail then great problems exist and will be intensified.