Last-Minute Hiccup on Netanyahu Coalition Discussions Regarding Titles Resolved

The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu was successful in facilitating a deal forming a new coalition government. He will be busy doing so early next week as the two parties that caused the negotiations to come to a standstill agreed to a compromise. Netanyahu is fully aware that the next term is going to be characterized by “security and diplomatic” challenges, and he seems to be excited and ready to face them.

Last-minute snag

On Wednesday, before the plan could be sealed, there was a disagreement over titles. Because of this, the plan was not formalized as hoped. PM Netanyahu was faced with a last minute challenge that could make or break is efforts at forming a more balanced government in Israel. The negotiators for Likud-Beytenu (PM Netanyahu’s party) were left hanging when the representatives from Jewish Home did not attend what was intended to be a final meeting. The issue was the title to be afforded Naftali Bennet, the head of Jewish Home, particularly whether he will be given the deputy prime minister post—a largely ceremonial title. Jewish Home and Yesh Atid claimed that the Prime Minister reneged on a promise to bestow deputy prime minister titles to the party heads.

Promising developments

An all-nighter spent clearing out the details of the agreement ended on Friday morning with a formal acquiescence to sign the coalition agreement. The parties at odds—Yesh Atid and Jewis Home, finally came to terms with Likud-Beytenu. The terms agreed upon were this: Bennet and the head of Yesh Atid, Yair Lapid will both forego deputy PM titles.

Acceptable terms

In the end, Bennet becomes head of the panel on market competition and concentration of wealth. On the other hand, Jewish Home will serve as the head of the Knesset committee that is assigned to the important task of coming up with the terms of a new universal military conscription law.

A coalition for peace

Before this latest snag so near to the finish line, there was a deadlock that took weeks until Netanyahu successfully sealed talks with Jewish Home (a party affiliated with West Bank settlers) and Yesh Atid.

The Israeli government is known for its preferential treatment for the Orthodox minority of the country. The coalition intends to initiate the workings of a new government that can effectively participate and facilitate peace efforts in the region. In the past four years of PM Netanyahu’s term, there were no concrete steps taken towards the peace process. Netanyahu was keen on sitting across the table from the Palestinians again and Yesh Atid, the PM’s senior partner agreed strongly to this call.

Controversial move

The new coalition government vows to end draft exemptions and generous subsidies to extremely Orthodox seminary students. They vow to do more. The coalition does not include Jewish parties that are ultra-Orthodox. This is the first time that they would be excluded.

The Israeli Parliament is composed of 120 members. Netanyahu’s Party won the biggest number of seats in the January polls (31 seats). These recent talks are designed to form a coalition with the majority (61 seats).