Hours before Israel’s new national unity government was set to be sworn in on Thursday evening, it was announced that it would be delayed to Sunday afternoon in order to give Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu more time to distribute ministry portfolios to his party.
A joint statement by Likud and Blue and White was released in which Blue and White leader Benny Gantz agreed to the delay, and would withdraw his resignation as Knesset speaker as well.
Reports state that numerous Likud Knesset Members (MKs), including ministers and veteran lawmakers, were privately and in some cases publicly rebelling against Netanyahu, as that they had been offered minor government positions or no post at all.
Yesterday, Rafi Peretz decided to quit the religious nationalist Yamina Party and enter the new government as the next minister of Jerusalem, heritage and national projects.
Outgoing Defence Minister and Yamina leader Naftali Bennett has denied reports of his party’s continuing negotiation with Likud, claiming it’s “a spin” by the ruling party.
Likud and Blue and White have until midnight on Wednesday to swear in the new government before new elections are automatically triggered. Most analysts believe Netanyahu will prove able to deal with the crisis, and that the coalition will be sworn in next week.
