T. Belman. This looks promising. It is an attempt to join Likud and form a right wing government before Netanyahu relinquishes his mandate. Netanyahu must get UTJ and Shas to make some concessions to Liberman.
MK Forer sends letter to Likud’s Min. Levin requesting parties’ negotiating teams meet, says ‘no doubt’ of agreement on sovereignty.
Yisrael Beytenu MK Oded Forer on Friday sent a letter to Likud’s Tourism Minister Yariv Levin, requesting that the parties’ negotiating teams meet to determine the basic tenets of a potential unity government.
The letter, published on Twitter, reads: “The need for the formation of a national unity government, together with the many challenges it will face, obligates us to work tirelessly in order to advance the issue. I turn to you so that we can hold a meeting of our negotiating staffs as soon as possible, to discuss the basic tenets of a potential government.”
“We must hold a serious and thorough discussion in order to work out all of the central issues the government will deal with, including disability stipends, basic welfare payments for seniors, applying sovereignty to the Jordan Valley (an issue which I have no doubt we will agree on together), security issues and issues of religion and state. I am at your service to hold a meeting with our negotiating teams as soon as possible.”
Sharing the letter, Forer tweeted: “I turned to Minister Yariv Levin this morning, requesting to hold a meeting between our negotiating teams in order to discuss the basic principles of the unity government.”
Earlier on Friday, Yisrael Beytenu Chairman MK Avigdor Liberman criticized Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for “not understanding the boomerang effect.”
In a tweet, Liberman wrote: “In the past two days, I heard a mix of flattery and criticism from the ‘bad business,’ (Bardugo – Yoav Yitzhak – Sharon Gal) Balfour Street’s court jesters. I guess Netanyahu hasn’t heard about the phenomenon called the ‘boomerang effect.’ Someone should really tell him about this interesting phenomenon.”
“Balfour Street” refers to Netanyahu’s residence, which is located on the street. Yaakov Bardugo, Yoav Yitzhak, and Sharon Gal are right-wing media figures.
@ Lev Azkhar:Absolutely right, Lev Askhar.
@ Ted Belman:
His party needs to put a bridle to Liberman. He hardly touches the ground this days. Israel needs a right wing Government at once.
@ Ted Belman:
I understand your reasoning for wanting a right-wing government. Unfortunately that ship has sailed.
When the UTJ/Shas did NOT agree to Liberman’s soft draft law (done in conjunction with the IDF, plus previously agreed to by almost all Haredi politicians except one) and tried to water it down to were in affect that would hold a veto over any practical draft of even ONE Haredi solider he forced new elections. He increased his seats since then by advocating Civil Marriage in Israel and other laws favored by majority of Israelis.
Liberman is advocating a UNITY government. A right-wing government is not on the table. If there is no UNITY government there will be new elections.
@ Bear Klein:
The reason I said it was promising was that the letter was from Yisrael Beiteinu to Likud and suggested that they meet. I assumed that he was inviting negotiations between them only. Notice that Gantz wasn’t invited. Yes, he called it a Unity government but that would also apply if they and Likud cut a deal.
Perhaps what he had in mind was finding common ground with Likud only and they telling Blue and White to join them in their deal.. It will still require concessions for UTJ and Shas.
As I said earlier, Liberman was proposing a unity government of three parties and not a right-wing government.
Who says Liberman is looking for a right wing government in these talks? How does one not know they are talking about a unity government.
TED- I believe it would make a better solution, if it included that Netanyahu should get Lieberman, Shas and UTJ, to “make concessions to one another”. After all, Lieberman , who has destroyed two elections in quick succession, and cost the State billions, is the real problem, And giving in to him is only the same sort of weak-kneed approach that the Israeli govt.takes in giving in to Arab rioters.
Lieberman can NOT be trusted, so he should not be allowed to walk all everybody and boast about it for ever after.
If, as the article says, he wants to make his deal before Netanyahu hands back the mandate, then this should be used to moderate his blustering demands.
If any hostilities break out before a strong govt is securely in place, his name will be execrated in history.