Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends an annual state memorial ceremony for Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben Gurion, at his gravesite in Sde Boker Israel, November 14, 2018. (photo credit: RONEN ZVULUN/REUTERS)
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Bayit Yehudi officials said earlier that if Education Minister Naftali Bennett does not become defense minister, the party will quit the coalition.
Their message came after senior Likud sources said Netanyahu plans to take on the defense portfolio – in addition to the Foreign and Health Ministries that he already heads. The prime minister automatically retains any portfolio if a minister resigns, until he appoints someone else to it. Should Netanyahu remain defense minister, he will be the first person to hold that position, prime minister and foreign minister at the same time. He will also take on the Immigration Absorption Ministry, since Sofa Landver is leaving the coalition with Yisrael Beytenu.
The Likud source also said the coalition can live out its days, until the legal election date of November 2019, even after Yisrael Beytenu leaves.
However, the chance that the coalition will survive much longer seemed very low in light of the conflicting statements.
With Yisrael Beytenu out, the coalition will be left with only 61 seats even if Netanyahu acquiesces to Bennett’s demand, meaning a one-vote majority that will be difficult to maintain, especially if highly contested legislation like haredi enlistment goes to a vote.
In addition, several top Likud MKs began jostling for the position of defense minister. Transportation and Intelligence Minister Israel Katz and Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman and former Shin Bet chief Avi Dichter are both thought to be vying for the job. Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan’s office denied that he had made any demands.
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Meanwhile, the opposition began working on the assumption that an election is on the way. Zionist Union faction chairman Yoel Hasson called on the coalition to coordinate an election date with his party.
Zionist Union leader Avi Gabbay said “good riddance” to Liberman and “Netanyahu should be next. He’s the one who promised to take down Hamas and turned into [Hamas leaders] Haniyeh and Sinwar’s insurance policy.”
Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid said he’s ready for an election: “Today, the countdown begins. Today, the journey begins to bring back the security, responsibility and leadership to Israel.”
Lapid said Netanyahu is the first prime minister “to tell citizens that they’re being shot at and he doesn’t now what to do. Israel lost its deterrence against all its enemies.”
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