T. Belman. Who will stand down, Smotrich or Netanyahu? A better question is, why is Netanyahu doubling down on this . Surely, it can’t be to appease the Biden Administration or can it? Could it be that he is ideologically at odds with Smotrich as the sub-title suggests?
I can not believe that Likud nor Netanyahu would prefer to go to another election. Their threat has no teeth.
The Religious Zionist Party criticizes Benjamin Netanyahu for withholding the position from Smotrich, saying it is “strange” he is vetoing someone “who wants a true right-wing policy in security.”
Yehuda Shlezinger, ISRAEL HAYOM 20.11.22
Religioust Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich | File photo: Oren Ben Hakoon
Right-wing bloc negotiation teams are scheduled to meet on Sunday to continue the coalition talks that have been at an impasse due to disagreements over the role of defense minister.
The role is sought after by Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich, who, according to reports, has been denied his request. Likud officials said that Smotrich will not be appointed defense minister, even at the expense of another election.
Smotrich, on his part, said a plan B would be the finance portfolio, which is what Sephardic ultra-Orthodox party leader Aryeh Deri also seeks.
According to reports, the Likud has asked Deri and Smotrich to resolve the matter between themselves, but the Religious Zionist Party rejected the idea, saying that the matter has to be resolved by Netanyahu himself.
Officials involved in the matter said that the most likely outcome is Deri backing down from the role of finance minister in exchange for a compensation package of some sort. This could include the position of deputy prime minister, which would make Deri a senior partner in the coalition as well as interior and religious affairs portfolios.
Earlier, Smotrich canceled a trip to the United States to meet with Jewish officials in order to finalize the coalition negotiations. He reportedly once again appealed to the Likud to hold a coalition “marathon” with the participation of all bloc leaders to come to an understanding and form a government as soon as possible.
The Religious Zionist Party criticized Netanyahu for withholding from Smotrich the position of defense minister, saying that it was “strange” that in the past, he appointed Benny Gantz, Avigdor Lieberman, and Naftali Bennett to the role, even though “they had much fewer mandates” than the Religious Zionist Party won in the latest election.
Netanyahu “vetoes Smotrich who heads a list that received 14 seats and over half a million votes and who wants a true right-wing policy in security,” the party said.
Reports also indicate that Smotrich is refusing to back down from his demand, having even turned down an offer of foreign minister.
I agree with Shmuel. If there has to be another election because the PM won’t give Smotrich Defence, the people will turn completely against him and perhaps his Party also.
I van understand th PM’s concern about US Objections , it definitely is legit, but he could make sure that Smotrich would not be a “runaway horse”. This is in his power to do by cast iron agreements that would put Smotrich out of the job if he overstepped too much.
Until Biden is gone. Then…Gung Ho…!
@Ted Belman
Why are you so surprised?
Netanyahu has always been an American puppet and a promoter of the TSS.
His aim has always been to help the Arabs take over Area C and to scuttle the Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria while making beautiful and charming “right-wing” speeches to deceive the voters and ruining every government which doesn’t have him at the helm.
Netanyahu used Smotrich to get into “his” Prime Minister seat again, and now he has no more use for him.
I hope Smotrich, et al. will, at least, learn from it and try to get rid of Netanyahu (and a few Likudniks) once and for all.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-said-to-tell-smotrich-he-wont-receive-defense-portfolio-over-us-objection/
Playing without tools. Mr. Netanyahu stagnant former Likud sank several times until we decided to default Mr. Netanyahu in for only one more time.
If they are suicidal, go for another election. They will follow Meretz…