BICOM

Formal coalition talks began in earnest yesterday after President Shimon Peres asked Benjamin Netanyahu to form a government on Saturday night. Netanyahu has 28 days in which to construct a coalition with the option of requesting a 12 day extension period. Having called for the formation of a “wide unity government” at the start of yesterday’s cabinet meeting, Netanyahu’s Likud-Beitenu negotiating team met with their counterparts from Yesh Atid, Jewish Home and Shas in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv.

As the Knesset’s second largest party, Yesh Atid is thought to have already detailed several conditions to joining a Netanyahu-led government. According to the Jerusalem Post, party leader Yair Lapid wants to become foreign minister with his party in control of several other ministries and the influential Knesset Finance Committee. A tough-talking Lapid is quoted by Channel Two saying, “I’m not sure I’ll be in the coalition. I might lead the opposition.”

However, Yesh Atid’s most contentious coalition demand is reportedly the requirement for ultra-Orthodox enlistment in military or national service. Co-leader of the ultra-Orthodox party Shas, Aryeh Deri commented yesterday “It will be hard to sit in a coalition with Lapid, considering his views on enlistment.” Shas representatives also met with the Likud-Beitenu delegation yesterday.

Meanwhile, Uri Ariel MK, who is leading the Jewish Home negotiating team indicated that his party would be willing to agree to Yesh Atid’s plan for enlistment, saying “We think everyone should bear the burden.” Maariv and Makor Rishon claim that Yesh Atid and Jewish Home have agreed to either join the coalition or sit in opposition together, in an attempt to reduce Likud-Beitenu’s leverage over them during negotiations.

Coalition talks will continue today with the Likud-Beitenu team scheduled to meet with United Torah Judaism, Hatnuah and Kadima representatives.